वाल्मीकि-रामायणम् vālmīki-rāmāyaṇam - book-6, chapter-36, verse-5

निःश्वसन्तौ यथा सर्पौ निश्चेष्टौ मन्दविक्रमौ ।
रुधिरस्रावदिग्धाङ्गौ तापनीयाविव ध्वजौ ॥५॥

5. niḥśvasantau yathā sarpau niśceṣṭau mandavikramau ,
rudhirasrāvadigdhāṅgau tāpanīyāviva dhvajau.

5. niḥśvasantau yathā sarpau niśceṣṭau mandavikramau
rudhirasrāvadigdhāṅgau tāpanīyau iva dhvajau

5. (tau) niḥśvasantau niśceṣṭau mandavikramau
rudhirasrāvadigdhāṅgau sarpau yathā tāpanīyau dhvajau iva

5. Sighing like two snakes, motionless and with diminished strength, their limbs smeared with flowing blood, they resembled two fallen golden banners.

Words meanings summery:

• निःश्वसन्तौ (niḥśvasantau) - sighing, breathing heavily

• यथा (yathā) - as, like

• सर्पौ (sarpau) - two snakes

• निश्चेष्टौ (niśceṣṭau) - motionless, inactive

• मन्दविक्रमौ (mandavikramau) - with diminished valor/power/movement

• रुधिरस्रावदिग्धाङ्गौ (rudhirasrāvadigdhāṅgau) - whose limbs are smeared with flowing blood

• तापनीयौ (tāpanīyau) - two golden (things)

• इव (iva) - like, as if

• ध्वजौ (dhvajau) - two banners/flags

Words meanings and morphology

निःश्वसन्तौ (niḥśvasantau) - sighing, breathing heavily

(participle)

Nominative, masculine, dual of niḥśvasat

niḥśvasat - sighing, breathing out

Present Active Participle

From verb root śvas with prefix niḥ

Prefix: niḥ

Root: śvas (class 2)

Note: Qualifies the implied subjects (Rama and Lakshmana).

यथा (yathā) - as, like

(indeclinable)

Note: Introduces a comparison.

सर्पौ (sarpau) - two snakes

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, dual of sarpa

sarpa - snake, serpent

Root: sṛp (class 1)

Note: Used in comparison.

निश्चेष्टौ (niśceṣṭau) - motionless, inactive

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, dual of niśceṣṭa

niśceṣṭa - motionless, inactive, inert

Compound formed with privative prefix 'nis' and 'ceṣṭa'.

Compound type : bahuvrihi (nis+ceṣṭa)

• nis – negation, lack
  indeclinable
• ceṣṭa – active, endeavoring, movement
  participle (masculine)
  Past Passive Participle
  From root ceṣṭ (to move, endeavor)
  Root: ceṣṭ (class 1)

Note: Qualifies the implied subjects.

मन्दविक्रमौ (mandavikramau) - with diminished valor/power/movement

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, dual of mandavikrama

mandavikrama - having little strength/valor/power; slow-moving

Bahuvrihi compound of 'manda' and 'vikrama'.

Compound type : bahuvrihi (manda+vikrama)

• manda – slow, dull, weak, diminished
  adjective (masculine)
• vikrama – valor, strength, power, step, stride
  noun (masculine)
  From root kram (to step, go) with prefix vi.
  Prefix: vi
  Root: kram (class 1)

Note: Qualifies the implied subjects.

रुधिरस्रावदिग्धाङ्गौ (rudhirasrāvadigdhāṅgau) - whose limbs are smeared with flowing blood

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, dual of rudhirasrāvadigdhāṅga

rudhirasrāvadigdhāṅga - having limbs smeared with blood flow

Bahuvrihi compound 'rudhira-srāva-digdha-aṅga'.

Compound type : bahuvrihi (rudhira+srāva+digdha+aṅga)

• rudhira – blood
  noun (neuter)
• srāva – flow, dripping
  noun (masculine)
  From root sru (to flow).
  Root: sru (class 1)
• digdha – smeared, anointed
  participle (masculine)
  Past Passive Participle
  From root dih (to smear).
  Root: dih (class 2)
• aṅga – limb, body part
  noun (neuter)

Note: Qualifies the implied subjects.

तापनीयौ (tāpanīyau) - two golden (things)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, dual of tāpanīya

tāpanīya - golden, made of gold; to be heated

Adjective derived from root tap (to heat/purify), implying refined or golden.

Root: tap (class 1)

Note: Qualifies 'dhvajau'.

इव (iva) - like, as if

(indeclinable)

ध्वजौ (dhvajau) - two banners/flags

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, dual of dhvaja

dhvaja - banner, flag, standard

Root: dhvaj (class 1)

Note: Used in comparison.