Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 11, Shloka 8

रावणस्य सभाप्रवेशः

Ravana Enters the Royal Assembly and Summons Counsel

Devanagari script

गदापरिघहस्ताश्चशक्तितोमरपाणयः ।परश्वथधराश्चान्येतथाऽन्येशूलपाणयः ।।।।

Transliteration

gadāparighahastāś ca śaktitomarapāṇayaḥ |

paraśvathadharāś cānye tathā ’nye śūlapāṇayaḥ ||

Translation

Some carried maces and iron bars; some bore spears and tomara-javelins; others held battle-axes, and still others carried tridents in their hands.

Word by Word

• gadā-parigha-hastāḥ: with maces and iron bars in hand
• gadā-parigha-hastāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gadā (प्रातिपदिक) + parigha (प्रातिपदिक) + hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), बहुवचनम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (gadā ca parighaś ca hastayoḥ/hasteṣu)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• śakti-tomara-pāṇayaḥ: holding spears and javelins
• śakti-tomara-pāṇayaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक) + tomara (प्रातिपदिक) + pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), बहुवचनम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (śaktiṃ ca tomaraṃ ca pāṇau)

• paraśvatha-dharāḥ: bearing battle-axes
• paraśvatha-dharāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paraśvatha (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), बहुवचनम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (paraśvathaṃ dharanti)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• anye: others
• anye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), बहुवचनम्

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: likewise)

• anye: others
• anye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), बहुवचनम्

• śūla-pāṇayaḥ: with tridents in hand
• śūla-pāṇayaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śūla (प्रातिपदिक) + pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), बहुवचनम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (śūlaṃ pāṇau)

Context

Further (Rakshasas) adorned in different kinds of uncouth attire, wearing different kinds of ornaments went by his side and also at the back.

Characters & Entities

• Rākṣasa warriors (implied)

FAQs

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

Weapons are instruments; dharma lies in their rightful use. The epic repeatedly teaches that force without satya and dharma becomes destructive, regardless of arsenal.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration catalogs the variety of weapons borne by the retinue accompanying the rākṣasa king.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Martial preparedness and intimidation through armament.