Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 11, Shloka 7

रावणस्य सभाप्रवेशः

Ravana Enters the Royal Assembly and Summons Counsel

Devanagari script

रथैश्चातिरथाश्शीघ्रंमत्तैश्चवरवारणैः ।अनूत्पेतुर्दशग्रीवमाक्रीडद्भिश्चवाजिभिः ।।।।

Transliteration

rathaiś cātirathāḥ śīghraṃ mattaiś ca varavāraṇaiḥ |

anūtpetur daśagrīvaṃ ākrīḍadbhiś ca vājibhiḥ ||

Translation

فسرعان ما تبع دَشَغْرِيفاَ (ذو الرؤوس العشر) عظماءُ مقاتلي العربات، وراكبو الفيلة الممتازة الهائجة بسُكْرِها، وآخرون على خيولٍ فتيةٍ صاهلةٍ تقفز بنشاط.

Word by Word

• rathaiḥ: with chariots
• rathaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचनम्

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

• ati-rathāḥ: great charioteers
• ati-rathāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ati (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), बहुवचनम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (atiśayena rathī)

• śīghram: swiftly
• śīghram: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śīghra (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाववत्)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• mattaiḥ: with intoxicated
• mattaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: matta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचनम्

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

• vara-vāraṇaiḥ: with excellent elephants
• vara-vāraṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक) + vāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचनम्; समासः—कर्मधारयः

• anūtpētuḥ: followed/kept close behind
• anūtpētuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu+ut+pat (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), बहुवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• daśa-grīvam: the ten-necked (Ravana)
• daśa-grīvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + grīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्; समासः—बहुव्रीहिः

• ākrīḍadbhiḥ: sporting/playing
• ākrīḍadbhiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā+krīḍ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (Present active participle); पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

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

• vājibhiḥ: with horses
• vājibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vājin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचनम्

Context

Then soldiers wielding swords and different kinds of weapons stood in front of the Lord of Rakshasas.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa (Daśagrīva)
• elephants
• horses
• chariots

FAQs

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

The verse shows the scale of worldly power. In the Ramayana’s ethical frame, such power is to be restrained by dharma; otherwise, it becomes a vehicle for adharma despite its splendour.

What is the narrative situation?

As Rāvaṇa advances, an armed and mounted retinue—chariots, elephants, horses—moves behind him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Organized might and military confidence (bala/utsāha) among followers.