Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 94, Shloka 21

रावणस्य सभाप्रवेशः — रामस्य शरवृष्ट्या राक्षससेनाविनाशः

Ravana Enters Council; Rama’s Arrow-Storm Destroys the Rakshasa Host

Devanagari script

चालयन्तंमहासैन्यंविधमन्तंमहारथान् ।ददृशुस्ते न वैरामंवातंवनगतंयथा ।।।।

Transliteration

cālayantaṃ mahāsainyaṃ vidhamantaṃ mahārathān |

dadṛśus te na vai rāmaṃ vātaṃ vanagataṃ yathā ||

Translation

Though he was shaking the vast army and smashing great charioteers, they still could not see Rāma—like wind moving through a forest, felt by its force yet not grasped by sight.

Word by Word

• चालयन्तम्: causing to move/shaking
• चालयन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चल् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (णिच् causative + शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; qualifying ‘रामम्’

• महासैन्यम्: the great army
• महासैन्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महासैन्य (प्रातिपदिक: महा + सैन्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समास: कर्मधारय (महद् सैन्यम्)

• विधमन्तम्: scattering/crushing
• विधमन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-√धम् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; qualifying ‘रामम्’

• महारथान्: great chariot-warriors
• महारथान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ (प्रातिपदिक: महा + रथ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; समास: तत्पुरुष (कर्मधारय-प्राय: महान् रथः यस्य/महान् रथः) conventional ‘great chariot-warriors’

• ददृशुः: saw
• ददृशुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• रामम्: Rama
• रामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वातम्: wind
• वातम्: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपमान (object of comparison)

• वनगतम्: gone into the forest / moving in the forest
• वनगतम्: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वनगत (प्रातिपदिक: वन + गत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘वातम्’; समास: तत्पुरुष (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष: वने गतः)

• यथा: as/like
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमावाचक/यथार्थक (comparative)

Context

They could not see Rama while he was moving and breaking huge chariots as one would not be able to see the trees in the forest when the wind blew fast.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Rākṣasas
• mahāratha (great chariot-warriors)
• vāta (wind)
• vana (forest)

FAQs

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

Dharma’s force can be irresistible and impersonal: it operates like wind—unseen but undeniable—dislodging entrenched violence and restoring moral balance.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma’s rapid assaults scatter formations and disable major fighters, yet the enemy cannot fix their gaze on him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Tejas coupled with tactical mastery—power expressed through mobility and precision rather than mere brute presence.