Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 53, Shloka 31

युद्धकाण्डे त्रिपञ्चाशः सर्गः — धूम्राक्षवधश्रवणं, वज्रदंष्ट्रप्रेषणं, अङ्गद-राक्षसयुद्धम्

Ravana Dispatches Vajradamshtra; Portents and Angada’s Assault

Devanagari script

रथैरश्वैर्ध्वजैश्चित्रैश्शरैर्हरिरक्षसाम् ।रुधिरेणसञ्छन्नाभूमिर्भयकरातदा ।।।।

Transliteration

rathair aśvair dhvajaiś citraiḥ śarīrair hari-rakṣasām |

rudhireṇa sañchannā bhūmir bhayakarā tadā ||

Translation

حينئذٍ غدت الأرضُ مهيبةً مُرعبةً للنظر، مغطّاةً بالدم، مبعثرةً فيها العرباتُ والخيولُ والراياتُ الزاهية، وأجسادُ الفانارا والرّاكشاسا.

Word by Word

• रथैः: with chariots
• रथैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• अश्वैः: with horses
• अश्वैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ध्वजैः: with flags
• ध्वजैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• चित्रैः: variegated, splendid
• चित्रैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: citra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ध्वजैः)

• शरैः: with arrows
• शरैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• हरिरक्षसाम्: of the Vanaras and Rakshasas
• हरिरक्षसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि + राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्वः (harayaḥ ca rākṣasāḥ ca)

• रुधिरेण: with blood
• रुधिरेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudhira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सञ्छन्ना: covered, strewn
• सञ्छन्ना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-छद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘covered’ (qualifying भूमिः)

• भूमिः: the ground
• भूमिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भयकरा: terrifying
• भयकरा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhayakara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying भूमिः)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

Context

Then the Rakshasa hordes hit by Angada shook violently just as a rain cloud would under wind.৷৷ইত্যার্ষেবাল্মীকীযেশ্রীমদ্রামাযণেআদিকাব্যেযুদ্ধকাণ্ডেত্রিপঞ্চাশস্সর্গঃ৷৷This is the end of the fifty third sarga of Yuddha Kanda of the first epic the holy Ramayana composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Vānaras
• Rākṣasas
• Chariots
• Horses

FAQs

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

The verse underscores the grave cost of war; even when war is undertaken for dharma, its violence is depicted as terrifying, encouraging reflection, restraint, and the preference for peace when possible.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator describes the battlefield after intense fighting: blood-covered earth and scattered war equipment and corpses.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Not a single virtue of one hero, but a thematic emphasis on sober awareness—recognizing consequences and the weight of conflict.