Shloka 19

दूषणवधः

The Slaying of Dūṣaṇa and the Rout of Khara’s Host

Devanagari script

दृष्ट्वैवापततस्तूर्णं राघवस्सायकैश्शितैः।।।।तीक्ष्णाग्रैः प्रतिजग्राह सम्प्राप्तानतिथीनिव।

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvaivāpatatas tūrṇaṃ rāghavaḥ sāyakaiḥ śitaiḥ |

tīkṣṇāgraiḥ pratijagrāha samprāptān atithīn iva ||

Translation

罗伽婆见他们疾速扑来，便立刻以锋锐尖利之箭迎击，仿佛在迎接到来的宾客一般。

Word by Word

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund); ‘having seen’

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• आपततः: of the attacker rushing in
• आपततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+पत् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (Present active participle); षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; ‘of the one who was rushing/attacking’

• तूर्णम्: quickly
• तूर्णम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाववत्)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• राघवः: Rāghava (Rāma)
• राघवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सायकैः: with arrows
• सायकैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• शितैः: sharp
• शितैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (सायकैः)

• तीक्ष्णाग्रैः: with sharp-pointed (ones)
• तीक्ष्णाग्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीक्ष्ण+अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः तीक्ष्णम् अग्रं येषाम् (कर्मधारय); विशेषणम् (सायकैः)

• प्रतिजग्राह: received, welcomed
• प्रतिजग्राह: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति+ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• सम्प्राप्तान्: those who had arrived
• सम्प्राप्तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+प्र+आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; ‘arrived’

• अतिथीन्: guests
• अतिथीन्: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Upama-sambandha (उपमा-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक अव्यय (comparative particle ‘like/as’)

Context

On seeing them rushing to attack him with sharp weapons, Rama received them quickly with pointed arrows as though they were guests.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• sāyaka (arrows)
• atithi (guest) (simile)

FAQs

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

Maryādā and mastery: even in combat, Rāma’s response is framed through the cultural ethic of ‘receiving’—orderly, deliberate, and appropriate to the moment.

What is the narrative situation?

As the three commanders charge, Rāma immediately counters with volleys of sharp arrows.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Presence of mind and disciplined skill—swift action aligned with duty, not rage.