Shloka 17

इन्द्रजित्–लक्ष्मणयोर् घोरः शरयुद्धः

Indrajit and Lakshmana’s Fierce Exchange of Arrows

Devanagari script

नैवंरणगताःशूराःप्रहरन्तिनिशाचर ।लघवश्चाल्पवीर्याश्चशरासुखास्तवहीमे ।।6.89.17।।

Transliteration

naivaṃ raṇagatāḥ śūrāḥ praharanti niśācara |

laghavaś cālpavīryāś ca śarāḥ sukhās tava hīme ||6.89.17||

Translation

Hỡi kẻ dạ-xoa đi đêm, các bậc anh hùng nơi chiến trận không ra tay như thế. Mũi tên của ngươi nhẹ và yếu; thật vậy, chúng còn gần như khiến ta thấy dễ chịu.

Word by Word

नnot

एवम्thus/in this way

रणगताःgone to battle

शूराःheroes

प्रहरन्तिstrike/attack

निशाचरO night-ranger (Rakshasa)

लघवःlight/feeble

चand

अल्पवीर्याःof little power

चand

शराःarrows

सुखाःeasy/pleasant (i.e., not painful)

तवyour

हिindeed

इमेthese

Context

"O Night ranger! Heroes coming for war do not strike this way. These arrows are weak, so not painful but conducive."

Characters & Entities

Lakṣmaṇa

Indrajit (addressed as niśācara)

FAQs

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

It invokes yuddha-nīti: a warrior should fight openly and effectively, not with cowardly or improper methods. Dharma in war includes courage and straightforward engagement.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa mocks Indrajit’s attack, calling it unworthy of a true hero and belittling the arrows’ impact.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s fearlessness and morale-building confidence, sustaining righteous resistance under pressure.