Shloka 138

युद्धकाण्डे एकोनषष्टितमः सर्गः

Rāvaṇa’s Assault on Nīla and Lakṣmaṇa; Hanumān Bears Rāma

Devanagari script

अथेन्द्रशत्रुंतरसाजघानबाणेनवज्राशनिसन्निभेन ।भुजान्तरेव्यूढसुजातरूपेवज्रेणमेरुंभगवानिवेन्द्रः ।।6.59.138।।

Transliteration

athendraśatruṃ tarasā jaghāna bāṇena vajrāśani-sannibhena |

bhujāntare vyūḍha-sujāta-rūpe vajreṇa meruṃ bhagavān ivendraḥ ||6.59.138||

Translation

پھر رام نے بڑی تیزی سے اندرا کے دشمن کو ایسی آگ برسات بجلی کے مانند تیر سے مارا، جو کندھوں کے بیچ اس کے کشادہ، خوب تراشے ہوئے سینے میں پیوست ہو گیا—جیسے بھگوان اندرا اپنے وجر سے مَیرو کو ضرب لگائے۔

Word by Word

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• vajrapāta-śani-sannipātāt: from thunderbolt-strikes and lightning-blows
• vajrapāta-śani-sannipātāt: Apādāna (अपादान/source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajrapāta + śani + sannipāta (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वः: 'from thunderbolt-strike and lightning-impact'

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (negation)

• cakṣubhe: trembled
• cakṣubhe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṣubh (क्षुभ् धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; with negation: 'did not tremble'

• na: nor
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (negation)

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle): 'even'

• cacāla: moved / reeled
• cacāla: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: cal (चल् धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; with negation understood from na: 'did not move'

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (राजन् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• rāma-bāṇa-abhihataḥ: struck by Rama's arrow
• rāma-bāṇa-abhihataḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rāma + bāṇa + abhihata (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: 'struck by Rama's arrow' qualifying saḥ/rājā

• bhṛśa-ārtaḥ: greatly distressed
• bhṛśa-ārtaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhṛśa (अव्ययवत्) + ārta (प्रातिपदिक; from √ṛ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: 'exceedingly pained'

• cacāla: reeled
• cacāla: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: cal (चल् धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• cāpam: bow
• cāpam: Karma (कर्म/object of mumoca)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cāpa (चाप प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• mumoca: released / let go
• mumoca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: muc (मुच् धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• vīraḥ: the hero
• vīraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (वीर प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; apposition to rājā/saḥ

Context

Then with a shining thunderbolt like arrows Rama struck with the weapon of Indra into the fine chest in between the shoulders just as Indra would strike the Meru Mountain with his thunderbolt.

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Meru
• Vajra
• Bāṇa (arrow)

FAQs

What dharmic idea is emphasized by comparing the strike to Indra’s vajra against Meru?

The simile frames the act as a righteous, divinely-aligned use of power: force is employed not for hatred or conquest, but to uphold dharma by restraining adharma embodied by Indra’s foe.

How does this verse relate to satya (truth) in the Ramayana’s ethical context?

Satya here is the commitment to truth in action—Rāma’s steadfast resolve to protect what is right. The unwavering, decisive strike symbolizes fidelity to his vowed purpose rather than wavering under fear or sentiment.