Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 105, Shloka 9

रावणक्रोधः—रामस्य परुषवाक्यम्

Ravana’s Fury and Rama’s Harsh Admonition

Devanagari script

ततोऽन्योन्यंसुसम्रब्धौतावुभौरामरावणौ ।शरान्धकारेसमरेनोपलक्ष्यतांतदा ।।।।

Transliteration

tato ’nyonyaṃ susamrabdhau tāv ubhau rāma-rāvaṇau | śarāndhakāre samare nopalakṣyetāṃ tadā ||

Translation

Then those two—Rāma and Rāvaṇa—fiercely trading volleys at one another, were, at that time, not visible to each other in the battle, as the field was darkened by arrows.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रमवाचक

• अन्योन्यम्: each other
• अन्योन्यम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्योन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; क्रियाविशेषण (reciprocally)

• सुसम्रब्धौ: highly enraged/fully engaged
• सुसम्रब्धौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (पूर्वपद) + सम् + रभ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, द्विवचनम्

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, द्विवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• उभौ: both
• उभौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, द्विवचनम्

• रामरावणौ: Rama and Ravana
• रामरावणौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक) + रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (रामश्च रावणश्च); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, द्विवचनम्

• शरान्धकारे: in the darkness (caused) by arrows
• शरान्धकारे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्धकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (शरैः अन्धकारः/शरजन्यः अन्धकारः); पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• समरे: in battle
• समरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात

• उपलक्ष्यताम्: were not discerned/seen
• उपलक्ष्यताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + लक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकारः (Imperfect) कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (Passive); प्रथम-पुरुषः, द्विवचनम्

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक

Context

Then with both Rama and Ravana speedily releasing (hail of) arrows on one another, the battlefield was darkened by arrows, and they were not able to see each other.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Rāvaṇa
• battlefield (samara)
• arrows (śara)

FAQs

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

Dharma warns against the blinding effects of rage and rivalry: when violence intensifies, discernment (viveka) and clear sight are lost—symbolized by ‘darkness’ created by arrows.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma and Rāvaṇa exchange dense barrages of arrows; the battlefield becomes so filled that they cannot clearly see one another.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Martial endurance and intensity—yet the verse also implicitly cautions that unchecked escalation obscures judgment.