Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 3
सुवेलारोहणं रावण-सुग्रीव-नियुद्धम्
Ascent of Suvela and the Ravana–Sugriva Duel
तस्यांगोपुरशृङ्गस्थंराक्षसेन्द्रंदुरासदम् ।।।।श्वेतचामरपर्यन्तंविजयच्छत्रशोभितम् ।रक्तचन्दनसंलिप्तंरत्नाभरणभूषितम् ।।।।नीलजीमूतसङ्काशंहेमसञ्छादिताम्बरम् ।ऐरावतविषाणाग्रैरुत्कृष्टकिणवक्षसम् ।।।।शशलोहितरागेणसंवीतंरक्तवाससा ।सन्ध्यातपेनसंवीतंमेघराशिमिवाम्बरे ।।।।
tasyāṃ gopuraśṛṅgasthaṃ rākṣasendraṃ durāsadam |
śvetacāmaraparyantaṃ vijayacchatraśobhitam |
raktacandanasaṃliptaṃ ratnābharaṇabhūṣitam |
nīlajīmūtasaṅkāśaṃ hemasaṃchāditāmbaram |
airāvataviṣāṇāgrair utkṛṣṭakiṇavakṣasam |
śaśalohitarāgeṇa saṃvītaṃ raktavāsasā |
sandhyātapena saṃvītaṃ megharāśim ivāmbare ||
ورأى راما سيّدَ الرّاكشسا قائمًا على ذروة بوّابة القصر—عسيرَ المنال—تُرفرف حوله مراوحُ التشامارا البيضاء، ويظلّه مظلّةُ النصر. مطليًّا بخشب الصندل الأحمر، متحلّيًا بحُليٍّ مرصّعة بالجواهر، لابسًا ثوبًا موشّى بالذهب، بدا ككتلةٍ من سحابٍ داكن. وعلى صدره ندوبٌ بارزة كأنّها خُطّت بأطراف أنياب إيرافاتا؛ وقد التفّ بكساءٍ قرمزيّ، فتألّق كركامِ سحابٍ في السماء يكسوه حُمرةُ الشفق.
In the meantime, Ravana thought of exhibiting his superiority by jugglery and jumped to the sky. Knowing that Sugriva, the untiring Vanara king assumed the air of victor and rose up to the sky. Baffled Ravana stood thinking Sugriva would come there.
FAQs
The verse frames power and splendor as morally neutral: outward majesty can accompany inner adharma. Dharma requires discernment—judging character and conduct, not being overawed by royal display.
In Laṅkā’s battlefield setting, Rāma sees Rāvaṇa displayed on the palace-gateway summit with ceremonial emblems, setting the stage for the vānara leaders’ reaction and challenge.
Rāma’s steadiness and discernment are implied: he observes an intimidating enemy without moral confusion, preparing for righteous action rather than reacting to spectacle.