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Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 108, Shloka 18

रावणरथवैभव–निमित्तदर्शन–राममातलिसंवादः

Ravana’s Chariot, Portents, and Rama–Matali Instructions

शरांश्चसुमहावेगान्सूर्यरश्मिसमप्रभान् ।तदुपोढुंमहद्युद्धमन्योन्यवधकाङ्क्षिणोः ।।।।परस्पराभिमुखयोर्दृप्तयोरिवसिंहयोः ।

śarāṃś ca sumahāvegān sūryaraśmisamaprabhān | tad upoḍhuṃ mahadyuddham anyonyavadhakāṅkṣiṇoḥ || parasparābhimukhayor dṛptayor iva siṃhayoḥ ||

And arrows of immense speed, radiant like the sun’s rays, were readied as that great battle drew near—two opponents facing one another, each intent on the other’s death, like proud lions confronting lion.

śarānarrows
śarān:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootśara (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)
caand
ca:
Samuccaya (समुच्चयः)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya (conjunction)
su-mahā-vegānvery swift
su-mahā-vegān:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
TypeAdjective
Rootsu (अव्यय) + mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + vega (प्रातिपदिक)
FormKarmadhāraya with intensifier; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifying 'śarān'
sūrya-raśmi-sama-prabhānradiant like sun-rays
sūrya-raśmi-sama-prabhān:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
TypeAdjective
Rootsūrya (प्रातिपदिक) + raśmi (प्रातिपदिक) + sama (प्रातिपदिक) + prabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
FormTatpuruṣa (with comparison element 'sama'); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifying 'śarān'
tadthat
tad:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormPronoun; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); referring to the situation/that (encounter)
upoḍhumto bring on/approach
upoḍhum:
Prayojana (प्रयोजनम्)
TypeVerb
Rootupa-√vah (वह् धातु) + tumun (तुमुन्)
FormKridanta infinitive (tumunanta); in sense 'to bring on/undergo/approach'
mahatgreat
mahat:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
TypeAdjective
Rootmahat (प्रातिपदिक)
FormAdjective; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying 'yuddham'
yuddhambattle
yuddham:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootyuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
anyonya-vadha-kāṅkṣiṇoḥof the two who desired to kill each other
anyonya-vadha-kāṅkṣiṇoḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
TypeAdjective
Rootanyonya (प्रातिपदिक) + vadha (प्रातिपदिक) + kāṅkṣin (प्रातिपदिक)
FormTatpuruṣa compound; Genitive (षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन); masculine; 'of the two desiring each other’s killing'
paraspara-abhimukhayoḥof the two facing each other
paraspara-abhimukhayoḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
TypeAdjective
Rootparaspara (प्रातिपदिक) + abhimukha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormTatpuruṣa compound; Genitive (षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन); masculine; qualifying the same pair
dṛptayoḥof the two proud/fierce
dṛptayoḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
TypeAdjective
Rootdṛpta (प्रातिपदिक)
FormAdjective; Genitive (षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन); masculine; 'of the two proud/fierce'
ivalike
iva:
Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootiva (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya (simile particle)
siṃhayoḥof two lions
siṃhayoḥ:
Upamāna (उपमानम्)
TypeNoun
Rootsiṃha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन)

Devas rained blood on Ravana's chariot, wind blew in circles intensely from left to right.

R
Rāma
R
Rāvaṇa
A
arrows

FAQs

Dharma in war demands clarity of aim and accountability: even in lethal conflict, the epic frames battle as a grave, purposeful act—not mere rage.

The decisive duel is about to begin; both sides stand face-to-face with weapons poised.

Courage and resolve are foregrounded; the verse also warns that pride (darpa) can accompany combat and must be governed by Dharma.