Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 96, Shloka 34

युद्धाय रावणस्य निर्याणं तथा उत्पातदर्शनम्

Ravana’s Mobilization for War and the ظهور of Fatal Portents

Devanagari script

ववर्षरुधिरंदेवश्चस्खलुश्चतुरङ्गमाः ।ध्वजाग्रेन्यपतद्गृध्रोविनेदुश्चाशिवाःशिवाः ।।6.96.34।।

Transliteration

vavarṣa rudhiraṃ devaś ca skhaluś caturaṅgamāḥ |

dhvajāgre nyapatad gṛdhro vineduś cāśivāḥ śivāḥ ||6.96.34||

Translation

وبدا كأن السماء تمطر دمًا؛ وتعثرَت الخيول؛ وحطّ نسرٌ على رأس الراية؛ وعوت بناتُ آوى عواءً مشؤومًا.

Word by Word

• ववर्ष: rained
• ववर्ष: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• रुधिरम्: blood
• रुधिरम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुधिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• देवः: the sky/deity
• देवः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• स्खलुः: stumbled
• स्खलुः: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्खल् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तुरङ्गमाः: horses
• तुरङ्गमाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुरङ्गम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ध्वजाग्रे: on the flagstaff top
• ध्वजाग्रे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (locative sense: ध्वजस्य अग्रे), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• न्यपतत्: fell down/alighted
• न्यपतत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि+पत् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• गृध्रः: vulture
• गृध्रः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृध्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• विनेदुः: howled/cried out
• विनेदुः: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+नद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अशिवाः: inauspicious
• अशिवाः: कर्तृविशेषण (Karta-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• शिवाः: jackals
• शिवाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

Context

Devas rained blood, horses stumbled, eagles settled on top of the post and jackals howled in a frightening way.

Characters & Entities

• Deva (heavens/sky)
• Horses
• Banner/standard (dhvaja)
• Jackals (śivāḥ)

FAQs

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

Portents warn that adharma carries self-announcing consequences; Dharma traditions treat such signs as calls to reflection and course-correction.

What is the narrative situation?

As the rākṣasa leader proceeds, multiple inauspicious omens manifest around his chariot and army.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The implied virtue is heedfulness (apramāda): wise leaders attend to warnings and align actions with Satya and Dharma.