वाल्मीकि-रामायणम् vālmīki-rāmāyaṇam - book-5, chapter-65, verse-18

एवमस्त्रविदां श्रेष्ठः सत्त्ववाञ् शीलवानपि ।
किमर्थमस्त्रं रक्षःसु न योजयसि राघव ॥१८॥

18. evamastravidāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ sattvavāñ śīlavānapi ,
kimarthamastraṃ rakṣaḥsu na yojayasi rāghava.

18. evam astravidām śreṣṭhaḥ sattvavān śīlavān api
kimartham astram rakṣaḥsu na yojayasi rāghava

18. O Rāghava, you are indeed the best among those skilled in weapons, endowed with strength and virtue. Why, then, do you not use your weapon against the rākṣasas?

Words meanings summery:

• एवम् (evam) - thus, in this manner, so

• अस्त्रविदाम् (astravidām) - among those knowing weapons, of the weapon-knowers

• श्रेष्ठः (śreṣṭhaḥ) - best, most excellent

• सत्त्ववान् (sattvavān) - strong, courageous, brave, endowed with goodness/being

• शीलवान् (śīlavān) - virtuous, well-behaved, of good conduct

• अपि (api) - Emphasizes the preceding qualities. (even, also, too)

• किमर्थम् (kimartham) - why, for what purpose

• अस्त्रम् (astram) - weapon, missile

• रक्षःसु (rakṣaḥsu) - against the rākṣasas (among the rākṣasas, towards the rākṣasas)

• न (na) - not, no

• योजयसि (yojayasi) - you employ, you use, you apply

• राघव (rāghava) - O Rāma (O Rāghava, O descendant of Raghu)

Words meanings and morphology

एवम् (evam) - thus, in this manner, so

(indeclinable)

अस्त्रविदाम् (astravidām) - among those knowing weapons, of the weapon-knowers

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, plural of astravid

astravid - one who knows weapons, expert in arms

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (astra+vid)

• astra – weapon, missile
  noun (neuter)
• vid – knower, one who understands
  noun (masculine)
  Derived from the root 'vid' (to know).
  Root: vid (class 2)

Note: Indicates the group among whom Rāma is superior.

श्रेष्ठः (śreṣṭhaḥ) - best, most excellent

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of śreṣṭha

śreṣṭha - best, most excellent, chief, principal

Superlative degree of 'praśasya' (excellent).

Note: Qualifies Rāma (implied subject).

सत्त्ववान् (sattvavān) - strong, courageous, brave, endowed with goodness/being

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of sattvavat

sattvavat - possessing sattva (essence, strength, goodness), strong, courageous, good

Derived from 'sattva' (essence, strength) with the possessive suffix '-vat'.

Note: Qualifies Rāma (implied subject).

शीलवान् (śīlavān) - virtuous, well-behaved, of good conduct

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of śīlavat

śīlavat - possessing good conduct, virtuous, moral

Derived from 'śīla' (conduct, character, virtue) with the possessive suffix '-vat'.

Note: Qualifies Rāma (implied subject).

अपि (api) - Emphasizes the preceding qualities. (even, also, too)

(indeclinable)

किमर्थम् (kimartham) - why, for what purpose

(indeclinable)

Compound of 'kim' (what) and 'artha' (purpose). Used as an interrogative adverb.

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (kim+artha)

• kim – what, which
  pronoun
• artha – purpose, meaning, object
  noun (masculine)

अस्त्रम् (astram) - weapon, missile

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of astra

astra - weapon, missile, magical weapon

Note: Direct object of the verb 'yojayasi'.

रक्षःसु (rakṣaḥsu) - against the rākṣasas (among the rākṣasas, towards the rākṣasas)

(noun)

Locative, neuter, plural of rakṣas

rakṣas - rākṣasa (demon, an evil being)

Note: Indicates the target or sphere of action.

न (na) - not, no

(indeclinable)

Note: Negates the verb 'yojayasi'.

योजयसि (yojayasi) - you employ, you use, you apply

(verb)

2nd person , singular, active, present (Laṭ) of yuj

Causative stem from the root 'yuj'.

Root: yuj (class 7)

Note: Second person singular active voice, present tense.

राघव (rāghava) - O Rāma (O Rāghava, O descendant of Raghu)

(proper noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of rāghava

rāghava - descendant of Raghu, Rāma

Patronymic from Raghu.

Note: Addressed to Rāma.