Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 73, Shloka 37

इन्द्रजितः ब्रह्मास्त्र-यागः तथा वानरसेनाविध्वंसः

Indrajit’s Brahmastra Rite and the Crushing of the Vanara Host

Devanagari script

शरेणैकेन च हरीन्नवपञ्च च सप्त च ।बिभेदसमरेक्रुद्धोराक्षसान् संप्रहर्षयन् ।।।।

Transliteration

śareṇaikena ca harīn nava pañca ca sapta ca |

bibheda samare kruddho rākṣasān saṃpraharṣayan ||

Translation

Giữa chiến địa, hắn nổi giận, dùng một mũi tên xuyên thủng bầy Hầu binh; kẻ thì một, kẻ thì chín, năm hoặc bảy mũi, khiến bọn La-sát hân hoan.

Word by Word

• śareṇa: with an arrow
• śareṇa: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; करण

• ekena: with one
• ekena: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies śareṇa)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• harīn: Vanaras
• harīn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक; 'monkey/Vanara')
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्म

• nava: nine
• nava: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nava (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या; here used as numeral qualifying harīn (nine)

• pañca: five
• pañca: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañca (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्या; numeral qualifying harīn (five)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• sapta: seven
• sapta: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sapta (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्या; numeral qualifying harīn (seven)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• bibheda: pierced
• bibheda: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bi-√bhid (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; 'pierced/split'

• samare: in battle
• samare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; अधिकरण

• kruddhaḥ: angry
• kruddhaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kruddha (कृदन्त; √krudh/क्रुध्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (implied subject: indrajit)

• rākṣasān: Rakshasas
• rākṣasān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्म (object of saṃpraharṣayan: 'gladdening the Rakshasas')

• saṃpraharṣayan: gladdening/cheering
• saṃpraharṣayan: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃ-pra-√hṛṣ (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक कृदन्त: 'gladdening'; agrees with implied subject

Context

Filled with anger, Indrajith alone with nine, five, seven arrows tore the Vanaras into pieces.

Characters & Entities

• Indrajit
• Vanaras
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

It contrasts righteous purpose with relish in harm: the Rākṣasas rejoice in violence, suggesting an ethical critique of taking joy in suffering.

What is the narrative situation?

Indrajit’s archery devastates the Vanara ranks, and the Rākṣasa side exults.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Implied virtue: compassion and restraint; the verse foregrounds their opposite—cruel triumphalism.