Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 108, Shloka 10
रावणरथवैभव–निमित्तदर्शन–राममातलिसंवादः
Ravana’s Chariot, Portents, and Rama–Matali Instructions
मातलेपश्यसम्रद्धमापतन्तंरथंरिपोः ।।6.108.9।।यथापसव्यंपततावेगेनमहतापुनः ।समरेहन्तुमात्मानंतथानेनकृतामतिः ।।6.108.10।।
mātale paśya samṛddham āpatantaṃ rathaṃ ripoh |
yathāpasavyaṃ patatā vegena mahatā punaḥ |
samare hantum ātmānaṃ tathānena kṛtāmatiḥ ||6.108.10||
يا ماتَلي، انظر إلى مركبة العدوّ البهيّة وهي تندفع مُقبلة؛ إذ يعود في الاتجاه المعاكس ثم يهجم ثانيةً بسرعةٍ هائلة. يبدو لي أنّ عزمه قد بلغ حدًّا أنّه في ساحة القتال ماضٍ إلى هلاكه بيده.
"Matali! the enemy's chariot is darting forward hurriedly. See him coming in the reverse direction with great speed once again. It strikes my mind that he is surely causing his fall."
FAQs
Apramāda (non-negligence) in righteous action: even when fighting for Dharma, one must observe carefully, interpret signs, and act with disciplined awareness rather than impulse.
Rāma observes Rāvaṇa’s aggressive maneuvering and warns Mātali, reading the enemy’s reckless charge as self-destructive.
Rāma’s strategic clarity: he combines courage with measured judgment, a hallmark of dharmic leadership.