Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 43, Shloka 25

द्वन्द्वयुद्धप्रवृत्तिः

Dvandva-Yuddha: The Onset of Single Combats

Devanagari script

अग्निकेतुश्चदुर्धर्षोरश्मिकेतुश्चराक्षसः ।।6.43.25।।सुप्तघ्नोयज्ञकोपश्चरामंनिर्भिभिदुश्शरैः ।

Transliteration

agniketuś ca durdharṣo raśmiketuś ca rākṣasaḥ |

suptaghno yajñakopaś ca rāmaṃ nirbhibhiduḥ śaraiḥ || 6.43.25 ||

Translation

难以攻破的阿伽尼计都与罗刹罗湿弥计都，连同苏普塔伽那与耶阇尼科帕，以箭矢一再射击罗摩。

Word by Word

• agniketuḥ: Agniketu
• agniketuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक) + ketu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Masculine nominative singular

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• durdharṣaḥ: Durdharsha / hard to assail
• durdharṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dur + dharṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Masculine nominative singular (as name/epithet)

• raśmiketuḥ: Raśmiketu
• raśmiketuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raśmi (प्रातिपदिक) + ketu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Masculine nominative singular

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• rākṣasaḥ: the rākṣasa (demon)
• rākṣasaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Masculine nominative singular (collective/appositional)

• suptaghnaḥ: Suptaghna
• suptaghnaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: supta (√svap, कृदन्त) + ghna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (कर्मधारय-भावः: 'slayer of sleepers'); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Masculine nominative singular

• yajñakopaḥ: Yajñakopa
• yajñakopaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña (प्रातिपदिक) + kopa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Masculine nominative singular

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• rāmam: Rama
• rāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Masculine accusative singular

• nirbhibiduḥ: pierced/mangled
• nirbhibiduḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir-√bhid (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; Perfect active 3rd pl

• śaraiḥ: with arrows
• śaraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; Masculine instrumental plural

Context

Even Agnikethu who is difficult to attack, Rakshasas Rasmikethu, also Mitarghna and Yajakopa mangled Sri Rama with arrows.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Agniketu
• Raśmiketu
• Suptaghna
• Yajñakopa

FAQs

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

The righteous leader is tested under concentrated adversity; dharma includes steadiness and refusal to abandon the cause even when attacked by many.

What is the narrative situation?

Four named rākṣasas coordinate their assault and shower Rāma with arrows.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s steadfastness under pressure—his composure and resolve before retaliating.