Shloka 23

इन्द्रजितः अन्तर्धानयुद्धं

Indrajit’s Concealed Assault and the Fall of Rama and Lakshmana

Devanagari script

रुक्मपुङ्खैःप्रसन्नाग्रैरधोगतिभिराशुगैः ।नाराचैरर्धनाराचैर्भल्लैरञ्जलिकैरपि ।।6.45.23।।विव्याधवत्सदन्तैश्चसिंहदंष्ट्रैःक्षुरैस्तथा ।

Transliteration

rukmapuṅkhaiḥ prasannāgrair adhogatibhir āśugaiḥ |

nārācair ardhanārācair bhallair añjalikair api ||6.45.23||

vivyādha vatsadantaiś ca siṃhadaṃṣṭraiḥ kṣuraiḥ tathā |

Translation

他用金羽箭杆、箭簇闪亮、迅疾直下的利箭射穿了他，使用了nārācas（铁箭）、半nārācas、bhallas（矛头箭）、añjalikas，以及形状像牛犊牙齿、狮子獠牙和剃刀边缘的箭矢。

Word by Word

• rukma-puṅkhaiḥ: with gold-feathered [arrows]
• rukma-puṅkhaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rukma (प्रातिपदिक) + puṅkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: rukmasya puṅkhaḥ), Masculine, Instrumental, Plural; instrument of piercing

• prasanna-agraiḥ: with bright/sharp tips
• prasanna-agraiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prasanna (प्रातिपदिक) + agra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (prasannam agraṃ yeṣām), Masculine, Instrumental, Plural; qualifying implied 'śaraiḥ'

• adho-gatibhiḥ: with downward-flying [ones]
• adho-gatibhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adhas (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva (adho-gati = downward course), Masculine, Instrumental, Plural; qualifying arrows

• āśugaiḥ: with swift [ones]
• āśugaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āśuga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural; qualifying arrows

• nārācaiḥ: with nārāca arrows
• nārācaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārāca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• ardha-nārācaiḥ: with half-nārāca arrows
• ardha-nārācaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ardha (प्रातिपदिक) + nārāca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (ardhaḥ nārācaḥ), Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• bhallaiḥ: with bhalla arrows
• bhallaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhalla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• añjalikaiḥ: with añjalika arrows
• añjalikaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: añjalika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (समुच्चय/अपि = also/even)

• vivyādha: pierced
• vivyādha: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vyadh (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular

• vatsadantaiḥ: with calf-tooth [headed arrows]
• vatsadantaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vatsa (प्रातिपदिक) + danta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: vatsasya dantaḥ), Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• siṃha-daṃṣṭraiḥ: with lion-fang [headed arrows]
• siṃha-daṃṣṭraiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siṃha (प्रातिपदिक) + daṃṣṭrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: siṃhasya daṃṣṭrā), Feminine stem used as arrow-type name; Instrumental, Plural

• kṣuraiḥ: with razor(-edged) [arrows]
• kṣuraiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/particle (तथा = likewise)

Context

Indrajith pierced Rama with arrows coated with gold and gold tipped arrows, which had even and circular heads, with half-moon arrows, with axe like heads, heads like joined palms, heads resembling teeth of calf and lion teeth arrows as well as razor sharp arrows which descended quickly unobstructed like dust.

Characters & Entities

• Indrajit
• Rāma (implied object of attack)

FAQs

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

Implicitly, the verse invites reflection on yuddha-dharma: power and technique in war must be governed by righteousness; sheer armament, when driven by anger and deception, becomes a sign of adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator details the many specialized arrow-types used in Indrajit’s overwhelming assault.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast, it highlights the need for restraint and ethical intent; martial skill is morally meaningful only when subordinated to dharma and satya.