Shloka 5

रावणवधः — The Slaying of Ravana

Brahmāstra Discharge

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मणानिर्मितंपूर्वमिन्द्रार्थममितौजसा ।दत्तंसुरपतेःपूर्वंत्रिलोकजयकाङ्क्षिणः ।।।।

Transliteration

brahmaṇā nirmitaṃ pūrvam indrārtham amita-ojasā |

dattaṃ sura-pateḥ pūrvaṃ tri-loka-jaya-kāṅkṣiṇaḥ ||

Translation

往昔，具无量威力的梵天为因陀罗之故铸成此箭；并在古时将其赐予诸天之主，当他渴求征服三界之胜利时。

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मणा: by Brahma
• ब्रह्मणा: Karana (करण/instrument; agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करणम्/कर्तृ-निर्देशः (agent in passive)

• निर्मितम्: made/created
• निर्मितम्: Kriya (क्रिया/PPP predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि+मा (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे विधेय-विशेषणम्

• पूर्वम्: formerly
• पूर्वम्: Kala (काल/temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• इन्द्र-अर्थम्: for Indra’s sake
• इन्द्र-अर्थम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/purpose-beneficiary)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुषः (इन्द्राय अर्थः/हितम्)

• अमित-ओजसा: by one of immeasurable might
• अमित-ओजसा: Karana (करण/instrument; agent in passive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमित (प्रातिपदिक) + ओजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (ओजस्), तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (अमितं ओजः यस्य/अमित-ओजस्)

• दत्तम्: given/bestowed
• दत्तम्: Kriya (क्रिया/PPP predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सुरपतेः: of the lord of gods
• सुरपतेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सम्बन्धः (genitive)

• पूर्वम्: formerly
• पूर्वम्: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• त्रि-लोक-जय-काङ्क्षिणः: of one desiring conquest of the three worlds
• त्रि-लोक-जय-काङ्क्षिणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive: ‘of one who desired…’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + जय (प्रातिपदिक) + काङ्क्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (त्रिलोकस्य जयः तं काङ्क्षति इति)

Context

Earlier, this powerful arrow was created for Indra's sake by Brahma and was bestowed to Indra, the king of gods, who was desirous of conquering the three worlds.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Indra

FAQs

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

Authority and force must be sanctioned by higher order: the epic frames true power as accountable to divine moral governance.

What is the narrative situation?

The text explains the provenance of the decisive weapon, elevating the climax from mere combat to a dharmic, cosmos-backed event.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Legitimacy through right lineage of transmission—strength is meaningful when rooted in sanctioned purpose.