Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 43, Shloka 5

द्वन्द्वयुद्धप्रवृत्तिः

Dvandva-Yuddha: The Onset of Single Combats

Devanagari script

एतस्मिन्नन्तरेतेषामन्योन्यमभिधावताम् ।रक्षसांवानराणांचद्वन्द्वयुद्धमवर्तत ।।6.43.5।।

Transliteration

etasminn antare teṣām anyonyam abhidhāvatām |

rakṣasāṃ vānarāṇāṃ ca dvandvayuddham avartata ||6.43.5||

Translation

In the meantime, as they rushed at one another, the Rākṣasas and the Vānaras fell into one-on-one duels across the field.

Word by Word

• etasmin: in this
• etasmin: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन)

• antare: in the interval/time
• antare: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन)

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• anyonyam: mutually, one another
• anyonyam: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anyonya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Reciprocal adverb (अव्यय, परस्परार्थक)

• abhidhāvatām: of (those) rushing at (each other)
• abhidhāvatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√dhāv (धाव् धातु)
• Form: Vartamāna-kṛdanta (वर्तमानकृदन्त) present active participle (शतृ), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifying teṣām

• rakṣasām: of the Rakshasas
• rakṣasām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• vānarāṇām: of the Vanaras
• vānarāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चय/निपात)

• dvandvayuddham: duel-fight, single combat
• dvandvayuddham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvandva (प्रातिपदिक) + yuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• avartata: arose, took place
• avartata: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√vṛt (वृत् धातु)
• Form: Laṅ (लङ्, Imperfect), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

Vidyunmali, the Rakshasa hit by the huge rock, was ceased of life.

Characters & Entities

• Vānaras
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Dharma in battle includes order and accountability—duels imply direct contest and personal responsibility rather than indiscriminate violence.

What is the narrative situation?

The general clash narrows into many paired combats between individual Vānara and Rākṣasa fighters.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Martial discipline and willingness to meet an opponent face-to-face.