Shloka 32

वज्रदंष्ट्रवधः — The Slaying of Vajradaṃṣṭra

Angada’s Duel

Devanagari script

व्रणैस्सास्त्रैरशोभेतांपुष्पिताविवकिंशुकौ ।।6.54.32।।युध्यमानौपरिश्रान्तौजानुभ्यामवनींगतौ ।

Transliteration

vraṇaiḥ sāsrair aśobhetāṁ puṣpitāv iva kiṁśukau |

yudhyamānau pariśrāntau jānubhyām avanīṁ gatau |

Translation

Thân thể rướm máu vì vô số vết thương do binh khí, hai vị trông như đôi cây kiṁśuka đang nở rộ; nhưng khi giao chiến mãi đến mỏi mệt, các ngài khuỵu gối, chạm đất mẹ địa cầu.

Word by Word

• vraṇaiḥ: with wounds
• vraṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• sa-astraiḥ: with weapons (weapon-strikes)
• sa-astraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + astra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (सह-अस्त्र = with weapons/weapon-cuts); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• aśobhetām: they shone/appeared splendid
• aśobhetām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√śubh/√śubh (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन

• puṣpitau: in bloom
• puṣpitau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṣpita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशेषण

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमा-वाचक

• kiṃśukau: two kiṃśuka trees
• kiṃśukau: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kiṃśuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• yudhyamānau: fighting
• yudhyamānau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √yudh (धातु) + शानच् (कृत्)
• Form: शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present middle participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशेषण

• pariśrāntau: exhausted
• pariśrāntau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari-√śram (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशेषण

• jānubhyām: with (their) knees
• jānubhyām: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jānu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, द्विवचन

• avanīm: the ground
• avanīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: avanī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• gatau: went down/fell
• gatau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √gam (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle used predicatively), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; ‘having gone (down)’

Context

Their wounds streaming blood, exhausted in the battlefield, when they rested on their knees on the ground, they were like charming Kimsuka blossoms.

Characters & Entities

• Angada
• Vajradaṁṣṭra
• kiṁśuka (Butea monosperma)

FAQs

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

Satya is central: the verse presents the truthful cost of conflict—beauty and horror intertwined. Dharma points toward restraint and the pursuit of justice so that violence is not glorified for its own sake.

What is the narrative situation?

Both fighters are badly wounded and exhausted; they drop to their knees even as the fight continues.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Endurance under suffering, and the refusal to yield despite physical collapse.