Shloka 21

त्रिशिरा-प्रबोधनम् तथा नरान्तक-वधः

Trisira’s Counsel and the Slaying of Naranthaka

Devanagari script

सर्वायुधसमायुक्तंतूणीभिश्चस्वलङ्कृतम् ।रराजगजमास्थायसवितेवास्तमूर्धनि ।।।।

Transliteration

sarvāyudhasamāyuktaṃ tūṇībhiś ca svalaṅkṛtam |

rarāja gajam āsthāya savitevāstamūrdhani ||

Translation

Được trang bị đủ mọi binh khí, lại điểm tô bằng những ống tên rực rỡ, chàng ngồi trên lưng voi mà tỏa sáng—như mặt trời nơi rìa trời lúc xế bóng về tây.

Word by Word

• सर्वायुधसमायुक्तम्: equipped with all weapons
• सर्वायुधसमायुक्तम्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + आयुध + समायुक्त (प्रातिपदिक; सम्+आ+√युज्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; तत्पुरुष (सर्वैः आयुधैः समायुक्तः) qualifying ‘गजम्’

• तूणीभिः: with quivers
• तूणीभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तूणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

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

• सुलङ्कृतम्: well-adorned
• सुलङ्कृतम्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु+लङ्कृत (प्रातिपदिक; √कृ)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; qualifying ‘गजम्’

• रराज: shone
• रराज: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √राज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• गजम्: elephant
• गजम्: कर्म (Karma/Object of ‘आस्थाय’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आस्थाय: having mounted
• आस्थाय: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/Adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+√स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having mounted/ascended’

• सविता: the sun
• सविता: उपमान (Upamāna/Comparator)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सवितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उपमान (standard of comparison)

• इव: like
• इव: उपमा (Simile marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (comparative particle)

• अस्तमूर्धनि: on the western horizon
• अस्तमूर्धनि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त + मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (मूर्धन्), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (अस्तस्य मूर्धा) ‘at the western summit/at sunset point’

Context

Ready with all kinds of weapons, quivers as well mounted on elephants shone like the setting Sun in the west.

Characters & Entities

• Mahodara (implied continuation from prior verse)
• Elephant (gaja)

FAQs

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

The verse reminds readers that brilliance and armament can be merely external; the Ramayana repeatedly measures worth by dharma (right cause and right conduct), not by display.

What is the narrative situation?

A vivid battlefield-style description of a rākṣasa champion mounted and fully armed, radiating splendor.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Tejas (splendor/force) and preparedness; ethically, it serves as contrast to dharmic legitimacy rather than proof of it.