Shloka 24

इन्द्रजित्–लक्ष्मणयोर् घोरः शरयुद्धः

Indrajit and Lakshmana’s Fierce Exchange of Arrows

Devanagari script

सुदीर्घकालंतौवीरावन्योन्यनिशितैःशरैः ।ततक्षतुर्महात्मानौरणकर्मविहारदौ ।।6.89.24।।

Transliteration

sudīrghakālaṃ tau vīrāv anyonyaniśitaiḥ śaraiḥ | tatakṣatur mahātmānau raṇakarmavihāradau ||6.89.24||

Translation

Trong một thời gian rất dài, hai vị anh hùng đó—những người có tâm hồn vĩ đại và tinh thông binh pháp—đã dùng những mũi tên sắc bén để tấn công lẫn nhau.

Word by Word

• sudīrghakālam: for a very long time
• sudīrghakālam: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: su- (उपसर्ग) + dīrgha (प्रातिपदिक) + kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव (सु + दीर्घकालम्), द्वितीया-एकवचनरूपेण कालवाचक-अव्यय (for a very long time)

• tau: those two
• tau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Nominative, Dual)

• vīrau: heroes
• vīrau: Apposition (समानााधिकरण/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Nominative, Dual)

• anyonyam: each other
• anyonyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anyonya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (mutually)

• niśitaiḥ: sharp
• niśitaiḥ: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niśita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Instrumental, Plural)

• śaraiḥ: with arrows
• śaraiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Instrumental, Plural)

• tatakṣatuḥ: struck/tore
• tatakṣatuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: takṣ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, द्विवचन (3rd person dual)

• mahātmānau: the two great-souled ones
• mahātmānau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (महान् आत्मा यस्य), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Nominative, Dual)

• raṇakarmavihāradau: skilled/active in the acts of battle
• raṇakarmavihāradau: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: raṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + karma (प्रातिपदिक) + vihāra (प्रातिपदिक) + da (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (रणकर्मणि विहारः येषां तौ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Dual)

Context

Both heroes, being experts in fighting, tore each other with sharp arrows for long.

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmana
• Indrajit

FAQs

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

Dharma here is disciplined perseverance: the narrative presents sustained effort and trained conduct (not impulsive rage alone) as the hallmark of rightful warriorhood.

What is the narrative situation?

The fight does not quickly resolve; it stretches on, emphasizing the equal skill and stamina of the two combatants.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Abhyāsa (mastery through training) and dhṛti (firmness): expertise maintained over time.