Shloka 2

इन्द्रजित्-वधः

The Slaying of Indrajit

Devanagari script

तौधवनिनौजिघांसन्तवन्योन्यमिषुभिर्भृशम् ।विजयेनाभिनिष्क्रान्तौवनेगजवृषाविव ।।।।

Transliteration

tau dhanvinau jighāṃsantāv anyonyam iṣubhir bhṛśam |

vijayenābhiniṣkrāntau vane gajavṛṣāv iva ||

Translation

وہ دونوں کمان دار ایک دوسرے کو قتل کرنے کی آگ میں، تیروں سے نہایت سختی سے وار کرتے ہوئے، فتح کی جستجو میں یوں نکلے—جیسے جنگل میں دو سردار ہاتھی۔

Word by Word

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन (Dual)

• धन्विनौ: two bowmen
• धन्विनौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन (Dual)

• जिघांसन्तौ: wishing to kill
• जिघांसन्तौ: Karta (कर्ता/Agent, participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु) + सन् (इच्छार्थक) → जिघांस् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; सन्नन्त (desiderative)

• अन्योन्यम्: each other
• अन्योन्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्योन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); परस्परवाचक (reciprocal)

• इषुभिः: with arrows
• इषुभिः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इषु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• भृशम्: exceedingly
• भृशम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भृशम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• विजयेन: for victory / with the aim of victory
• विजयेन: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विजय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular); हेतौ/निमित्ते (as cause/means)

• अभिनिष्क्रान्तौ: having sallied forth
• अभिनिष्क्रान्तौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-निस्-क्रम् (धातु) → अभिनिष्क्रान्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकाले क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle used adjectivally), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• वने: in the forest
• वने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• गजवृषौ: (like) an elephant and a bull
• गजवृषौ: Upamana (उपमान/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक) + वृष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्वसमास (copulative): गज + वृष; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Upama-suchaka (उपमासूचक/Comparative particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle of comparison)

Context

Exceedingly wanting to kill one another, wielding bows, both sallied forth like Lordly elephants in the forest, to succeed.

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmana
• Indrajit

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

The verse frames combat as a direct contest of responsibility: when dharma is threatened, the protector must step forward to confront the danger rather than evade it.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakshmana and Indrajit close in for a fierce duel, each intent on victory and the other’s defeat.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage and unwavering commitment to one’s cause—especially Lakshmana’s duty-bound readiness to face a powerful enemy.