Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 55, Shloka 22

अकम्पन-प्रेषणम् तथा कपि-राक्षस-रणवर्णनम्

Akampana Dispatched; The Vanara–Rakshasa Battle and Omens

Devanagari script

हरीनेवसुसंरुष्टाहरयोजघ्नुराहवे ।।।।राक्षसाराक्षसांश्चापिनिजघ्नुस्तिमिरेतदा ।

Transliteration

harīn eva susaṃruṣṭā harayo jaghnur āhave | rākṣasā rākṣasāṃś cāpi nijaghnus timire tadā ||

Translation

Rồi trong bóng tối ấy, các Vānara nổi giận, giữa trận lại đánh cả Vānara; còn các Rākṣasa cũng vậy, khi ấy cũng đánh lầm cả đồng loại Rākṣasa.

Word by Word

• हरीन्: Vanaras
• हरीन्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), बहुवचन

• एव: indeed; only
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• सुसंरुष्टाः: highly enraged
• सुसंरुष्टाः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + सम् + रुष् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle in adjectival use); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘हरयः’)

• हरयः: Vanaras
• हरयः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• जघ्नुः: struck; killed
• जघ्नुः: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथमा-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• आहवे: in battle
• आहवे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आहव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• राक्षसाः: Rakshasas
• राक्षसाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• राक्षसान्: Rakshasas
• राक्षसान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

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

• अपि: also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अतिशय-अव्यय (also/even)

• निजघ्नुः: struck down
• निजघ्नुः: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + हन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथमा-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• तिमिरे: in darkness
• तिमिरे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिमिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• तदा: then
• तदा: कालाधिकरण (Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

Context

Then in that darkness and in anger Vanaras went attacking Vanaras and Rakshasas also attacked Rakshasas (not knowing).

Characters & Entities

• Vānara
• Rākṣasa
• darkness (timira)

FAQs

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

Dharma warns against acting from blind anger; when rage overrides recognition, one harms even one’s own side—an image of adharma born from delusion (moha).

What is the narrative situation?

Because of darkness and dust, combatants cannot identify allies and enemies, leading to accidental attacks within each army.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discernment and composure are emphasized by contrast: their absence leads to tragic friendly-fire.