Shloka 20

रावण–रामयुद्धप्रारम्भः

The Intensification of the Rama–Ravana Duel

Devanagari script

एकमेकेनबाणेनत्रिभिस्त्रीन् दशभिर्दश ।लक्ष्मणस्य प्रचिच्छेद दर्शयन् पाणिलाघवम् ।।6.100.20।।

Transliteration

ekam ekena bāṇena tribhis trīn daśabhir daśa |

lakṣmaṇasya praciccheda darśayan pāṇilāghavam ||6.100.20||

Translation

Die Schnelligkeit seiner Hand offenbarend, hieb er Lakṣmaṇas Pfeile nieder: einen mit einem, drei mit dreien und zehn mit zehn.

Word by Word

• एकम्: one (arrow)
• एकम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक (numeral)

• एकेन: with one
• एकेन: करण-विशेषण (Instrument-qualifier/करणविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक; ‘बाणेन’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• बाणेन: by an arrow
• बाणेन: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• त्रिभिः: with three
• त्रिभिः: करण-विशेषण (Instrument-qualifier/करणविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया, बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक; करणवाचक

• त्रीन्: three
• त्रीन्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक (three targets/items)

• दशभिः: with ten
• दशभिः: करण-विशेषण (Instrument-qualifier/करणविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया, बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक

• दश: ten
• दश: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (numeral used as object)

• लक्ष्मणस्य: of Lakshmana
• लक्ष्मणस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• प्रचिच्छेद: cut/split
• प्रचिच्छेद: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-छिद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• दर्शयन्: showing
• दर्शयन्: कर्ता-विशेषण (Agent-qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त, शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि विशेषण (of Ravana understood)

• पाणिलाघवम्: dexterity of hand
• पाणिलाघवम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाणिलाघव (प्रातिपदिक: पाणि + लाघव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Context

On seeing Mahodara and Mahaparsva killed in the great war, Virupaksha of extraordinary might also killed, Ravana was highly infuriated and addressed the charioteer in the following words.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Lakṣmaṇa
• arrows (bāṇa)

FAQs

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

The verse reinforces that dharma is not validated by mere prowess. Even extraordinary skill (kauśala) must be aligned with satya and righteous intent to become truly noble.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa demonstrates superior speed and precision by matching Lakṣmaṇa’s arrows with equal counters, cutting them down in exact counts.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Technical excellence and rapid execution (pāṇilāghava); ethically, the text invites reflection on how such gifts are used.