Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 73, Shloka 60

इन्द्रजितः ब्रह्मास्त्र-यागः तथा वानरसेनाविध्वंसः

Indrajit’s Brahmastra Rite and the Crushing of the Vanara Host

Devanagari script

तेन्योन्यमभिसर्पन्तोनिनदन्तश्चविस्वरम् ।राक्षसेन्द्रास्त्रनिर्भिन्नानिपेतुर्वानरर्षभाः ।।।।

Transliteration

te nyonyam abhisarpanto ninadantaś ca visvaram |

rākṣasendrāstranirbhinnā nipetur vānararṣabhāḥ ||

Translation

那些如雄牛般的婆那罗，被罗刹之王的兵器所贯穿，仍彼此奔赴相向；发出断续失声的呼号，终至倒地而亡。

Word by Word

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अन्योन्यम्: one another
• अन्योन्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; reciprocal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्योन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), परस्परार्थे (reciprocal adverb)

• अभिसर्पन्तः: approaching, gliding towards
• अभिसर्पन्तः: Karta (कर्ता; participle agreeing with subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-√सृप् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Present active participle/शतृ), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; उपसर्गः अभि-

• निनदन्तः: roaring
• निनदन्तः: Karta (कर्ता; participle agreeing with subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √नद् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Present active participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• विस्वरम्: discordant, out of tune
• विस्वरम्: Karma (कर्म; object of roaring, implied)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विस्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying the sound/roar)

• राक्षसेन्द्रास्त्रनिर्भिन्नाः: pierced by the Rakshasa-king's weapons
• राक्षसेन्द्रास्त्रनिर्भिन्नाः: Karta (कर्ता; adjective of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राक्षसेन्द्र + अस्त्र + नि-√भिद् (धातु)
• Form: समासः (compound): राक्षसेन्द्रस्य अस्त्रैः निर्भिन्नाः (instrumental sense inside compound); भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying वानरर्षभाः)

• निपेतुः: fell down
• निपेतुः: Kriya (क्रिया/finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√पत् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; उपसर्गः नि-

• वानरर्षभाः: bulls among the monkeys (chief vanaras)
• वानरर्षभाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर + ऋषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: वानराणां ऋषभाः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Context

Hit by the Rakshasa king, the bulls among Vanaras gliding towards one another roared in discordant tones and fell down.

Characters & Entities

• Vanaras (vānararṣabhāḥ)

FAQs

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

Even the strongest fall when truth and fairness are compromised in war; dharma is tested in chaos by how one continues to uphold duty despite fear and suffering.

What is the narrative situation?

Vanara champions, wounded by powerful weapons, collide and fall amid confusion and cries.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The Vanaras’ bravery and forward surge (not retreat) is implied, even as they are struck down.