Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 43, Shloka 38

द्वन्द्वयुद्धप्रवृत्तिः

Dvandva-Yuddha: The Onset of Single Combats

Devanagari script

तमापतन्तंगदयाविद्युन्मालीनिशाचरः ।वक्षस्यभिजघानाशुसुषेणंहरिपुङ्गवः ।।6.43.38।।

Transliteration

tam āpatantaṃ gadayā vidyunmālī niśācaraḥ | vakṣasy abhijaghāna āśu suṣeṇaṃ haripuṅgavam ||6.43.38||

Translation

当苏舍那奋然冲锋之时，夜行的罗刹毗电鬘利立刻挥起钉锤，猛击这位猿军雄杰的胸膛。

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• आपतन्तम्: as he was rushing/falling upon
• आपतन्तम्: कर्म-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ+पत् (धातु) → पतन्त् (शतृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; शतृ-प्रत्यय (present participle): 'falling/charging'

• गदया: with a mace
• गदया: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• विद्युन्माली: Vidyunmālī
• विद्युन्माली: कर्ता
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्युन्मालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• निशाचरः: the rākṣasa
• निशाचरः: कर्ता-सम्बन्ध (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशाचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• वक्षसि: on the chest
• वक्षसि: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• अभिजघान: struck
• अभिजघान: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि+हन् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (quickly)

• सुषेणम्: Suṣeṇa
• सुषेणम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुषेण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• हरि-पुङ्गवः: leader among monkeys
• हरि-पुङ्गवः: कर्ता (Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक) + पुङ्गव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Context

Then Vidyunmali, seeing the leader of monkeys getting the huge rock, hit him on the chest with the mace.

Characters & Entities

• Vidyunmālī
• Suṣeṇa
• mace (gadā)

FAQs

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

The verse underscores the reality of harm in war: dharma is not sentimental; it recognizes danger and demands preparedness, discipline, and protection of one’s leaders.

What is the narrative situation?

Vidyunmālī meets Suṣeṇa’s charge by delivering a quick mace-blow to his chest.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

For Suṣeṇa, resilience under attack; for Vidyunmālī, tactical responsiveness and speed.