Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 46, Shloka 12

शरबन्धनम् (The Binding by Arrows) / Indrajit’s Illusory Assault and the Vanaras’ Consolation

Devanagari script

दूषणस्यचहन्तारौखरस्यचमहाबलौ ।।6.46.12।।सादितौमामकैर्बाणैर्भ्रातरौरामलक्ष्मणौ ।

Transliteration

dūṣaṇasya ca hantārau kharasya ca mahābalau | sāditau māmakair bāṇair bhrātarau rāma-lakṣmaṇau || 6.46.12 ||

Translation

“Hai anh em dũng mãnh—Rāma và Lakṣmaṇa—những kẻ đã diệt Dūṣaṇa và Khara, nay đã bị mũi tên của ta đánh gục.”

Word by Word

• दूषणस्य: of Dūṣaṇa
• दूषणस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; नाम

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• हन्तारौ: the two slayers
• हन्तारौ: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हन्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; ‘slayers’

• खरस्य: of Khara
• खरस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; नाम

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• महाबलौ: very strong
• महाबलौ: विशेषण (Adjectival to subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महत्+बल); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; (qualifying हन्तारौ/भ्रातरौ)

• सादितौ: struck down
• सादितौ: कर्मणि-भाव (Result state of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सद्/साद् (धातु) + सादित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; ‘struck/disabled’ (predicate adjective)

• मामकैः: by my
• मामकैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मामक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘my/ours’ (qualifying बाणैः)

• बाणैः: with arrows
• बाणैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• भ्रातरौ: the two brothers
• भ्रातरौ: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन

• रामलक्ष्मणौ: Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa
• रामलक्ष्मणौ: अपादान/सम्बन्ध (Apposition to subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक) + लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; proper names

Context

"The two brothers, Rama and Lakshmana, who slayed Dushana and Khara have been struck."

Characters & Entities

• Indrajit (Meghanāda)
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Dūṣaṇa
• Khara

FAQs

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

The verse contrasts true merit with momentary dominance: dharma esteems steadfast righteousness over boastful claims of power, even when the righteous are temporarily brought low.

What is the narrative situation?

Indrajit announces to his side that he has disabled Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa—heroes known for earlier victories over Khara and Dūṣaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa’s established heroism is recalled (their prior victories), while Indrajit’s speech emphasizes vainglory rather than virtue.