Shloka 88

युद्धकाण्डे एकोनषष्टितमः सर्गः

Rāvaṇa’s Assault on Nīla and Lakṣmaṇa; Hanumān Bears Rāma

Devanagari script

तथापित्वांमयामुक्तस्सायोकोऽस्त्रप्रयोजितः ।जीवितंपरिरक्षन्तंजीविताद्भ्रंशयिष्यति ।।6.59.88।।

Transliteration

tathāpi tvāṃ mayā muktaḥ sāyako 'straprayojitaḥ |

jīvitaṃ parirakṣantaṃ jīvitād bhraṃśayiṣyati ||6.59.88||

Translation

Dẫu vậy, mũi tên ta đã phóng ra—được gia trì bởi thần chú của astra—sẽ khiến ngươi lìa khỏi mạng sống, dù ngươi đang gắng sức bảo toàn nó.

Word by Word

• tathāpi: nevertheless
• tathāpi: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय) + api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; concessive adverb ‘even so’

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; pronoun

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Karta/Karaṇa (कर्ता/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; pronoun

• muktaḥ: released
• muktaḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mukta (√muc क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; qualifying sāyakaḥ

• sāyakaḥ: arrow
• sāyakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• astra-prayojitaḥ: weapon-charged
• astra-prayojitaḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: astra (प्रातिपदिक) + prayojita (pra-√yuj/√yuj णिच् क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; तत्पुरुषः ‘charged/impelled by a missile-spell’ qualifying sāyakaḥ

• jīvitam: life
• jīvitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jīvita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• parirakṣantam: while protecting
• parirakṣantam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari-√rakṣ (धातु; शतृ)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Accusative, Singular; qualifying tvām

• jīvitāt: from life
• jīvitāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jīvita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• bhraṃśayiṣyati: will deprive (you)
• bhraṃśayiṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhraṃś (धातु)
• Form: Future (लृट्), 3rd Person, Singular, Parasmaipada; causative sense ‘will cause to fall away’

Context

"The arrow released by me now is charged with a missile and will destroy your life. You have been protecting (changing your forms) your life."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Nīla
• astra (weapon-mantra)
• arrow (sāyaka)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the gravity of wielding power: astra-knowledge has decisive consequences, so a warrior’s dharma demands restraint, responsibility, and readiness for the results of one’s choices.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa declares that his astra-charged arrow will end Nīla’s life despite Nīla’s attempts to preserve himself through transformations.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Martial confidence and mastery of astras (weapon-mantras), presented as a formidable—though morally dangerous—form of strength.