Shloka 57

इन्द्रजिद्-लक्ष्मणयुद्धम्

Indrajit and Lakṣmaṇa: Escalation through Concealment

Devanagari script

पलायनकृतोत्साह: प्राद्रवद्‌ येन वै वनम्‌ । सैन्धवं त्वभिसम्प्रेक्ष्य पराक्रान्तं पलायने

Transliteration

palāyanakṛtotsāhaḥ prādravad yena vai vanam | saindhavaṃ tv abhisamprekṣya parākrāntaṃ palāyane

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: Hắn, kẻ đã dồn hết ý chí vào việc trốn chạy, lao vào rừng. Nhưng khi thấy vương tử Sindhu (Jayadratha) đã khởi bước tháo lui, tình thế liền biến thành cuộc truy đuổi một sự rút chạy hèn nhát—cho thấy trong trật tự đạo lý của sử thi, chạy trốn vì sợ hãi chỉ chuốc lấy nhục nhã và báo ứng.

Word by Word

पलायनकृतोत्साहःwhose zeal was for flight / intent on fleeing

प्राद्रवत्ran forth / fled

येनby whom / by which

वैindeed

वनम्the forest

सैन्धवम्the Sindhu-king (Jayadratha)

तुbut

अभिसम्प्रेक्ष्यhaving looked at / having observed

पराक्रान्तम्having advanced / having set out

पलायनेin flight / in fleeing

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Saindhava (Jayadratha)

forest (vana)

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores an epic ethic: fear-based flight (palāyana) is not merely tactical withdrawal but a moral failing that invites dishonor and pursuit; courage and accountability are expected, especially of a kṣatriya.

What is happening in the narrative?

A figure runs into the forest with the intention of escaping; upon noticing the Sindhu prince (Jayadratha) also moving to flee, the scene frames a chase and the unraveling of the offender’s attempt to evade consequences.