Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 73, Shloka 8

इन्द्रजितः ब्रह्मास्त्र-यागः तथा वानरसेनाविध्वंसः

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

Devanagari script

स एवमुक्त्वात्रिदशेन्द्रशत्रुरापृच्छयराजानमदीनसत्त्वः ।समारुरोहानितुल्यवेगंरथंखरश्रेष्ठसमाधियुक्तम् ।।।।

Transliteration

sa evam uktvā tridaśendra-śatrur āpṛcchya rājānam adīna-sattvaḥ |

samārurohānila-tulya-vegaṃ rathaṃ khara-śreṣṭha-samādhi-yuktam ||

Translation

他说罢，这位天帝之敌、心志坚毅者，向国王辞别，登上那辆疾速无比的战车，套着最上等的驴。

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; subject

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Prakāra-avyaya (प्रकार-अव्यय) adverb

• uktvā: having spoken
• uktvā: Kriyā (क्रिया) (pūrvakāla)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वान्त), pūrvakāla-kriyā (prior action) 'having said'

• tridaśendraśatruḥ: enemy of Indra, lord of the gods
• tridaśendraśatruḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (appositive epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tridaśa + indra + śatru (प्रातिपदिक-त्रय)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: 'tridaśānām indrasya śatruḥ' (genitive relation); Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; apposition to 'saḥ'

• āpṛcchya: having taken leave
• āpṛcchya: Kriyā (क्रिया) (pūrvakāla)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + pṛcch (धातु) + ya (ल्यप्/क्त्वा-समकक्ष)
• Form: Absolutive (ल्यप्) 'having taken leave/asked permission'; pūrvakāla-kriyā

• rājānam: the king
• rājānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; object of 'āpṛcchya'

• adīnasattvaḥ: undaunted in spirit
• adīnasattvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (as qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a + dīna + sattva (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi (बहुव्रीहि) 'yasya sattvaṃ adīnam' = whose spirit is not dejected; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of 'saḥ'

• samārurōha: mounted, ascended
• samārurōha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + ā + ruh (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (लङ्, imperfect/past), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• anitulyavegam: of incomparable speed
• anitulyavegam: Karma (कर्म) (as qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a + tulya + vega (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) 'anitulyaḥ vegaḥ yasya' (as adjectival compound); Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of 'ratham'

• ratham: chariot
• ratham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; object of 'samārurōha'

• kharaśreṣṭhasamādhiyuktam: yoked with the best of asses and well-equipped/controlled
• kharaśreṣṭhasamādhiyuktam: Karma (कर्म) (as qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: khara-śreṣṭha + samādhi + yukta (प्रातिपदिक-समूह; yukta = yuj + kta)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (determinative) with nested compound: 'kharaśreṣṭhaiḥ (yukta/saṃyukta)' + 'samādhinā yukta' (well-arranged/controlled); Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of 'ratham'

Context

(Indrajith) having spoken in that manner, taking leave of the king, the enemy of Indra (the ruler of gods), ascended the chariot swift as wind in speed, drawn by the best of donkeys.

Characters & Entities

• Indrajit
• Indra
• Rāvaṇa
• Chariot

FAQs

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

The verse is ethically neutral in description, but it frames purposeful action: dharma values resolve aligned with righteousness; here the same resolve is employed in an unrighteous cause, illustrating that determination alone is not dharma.

What is the narrative situation?

After addressing Rāvaṇa, Indrajit departs immediately for battle, mounting his swift chariot.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfastness (adīna-sattva), though ethically ambiguous because it serves the rākṣasa side.