Shloka 28

रावण–रामयुद्धप्रारम्भः

The Intensification of the Rama–Ravana Duel

Devanagari script

सततंविविधैर्बाणैर्बभूवगगनंतदा ।घनैरिवातपापायेविद्युन्मालाससमाकुलैः ।।6.100.28।।

Transliteration

satataṃ vividhair bāṇair babhūva gaganaṃ tadā |

ghanair ivātapāpāye vidyunmālā-samākulaiḥ ||6.100.28||

Translation

Da war der Himmel unablässig von Pfeilen vieler Arten erfüllt, gleich einer Wolkenmasse beim Schwinden des Sonnenlichts, dicht durchwoben von Girlanden des Blitzes.

Word by Word

• सततम्: constantly
• सततम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: continually/constantly)

• विविधैः: with various
• विविधैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषणम् (of bāṇaiḥ)

• बाणैः: with arrows
• बाणैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• बभूव: became/was
• बभूव: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपदम्

• गगनम्: the sky
• गगनम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गगन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• तदा: then
• तदा: कालाधिकरण (Time adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक (temporal adverb)

• घनैः: with clouds
• घनैः: उपमान-करण (Instrument in simile)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• इव: like
• इव: उपमान (Simile marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमानसूचक (particle of comparison)

• आतपापाये: with sunlight obscured/overcast
• आतपापाये: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आतप + अपाय (प्रातिपदिकौ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष/उपपद-समासार्थः ('in/with the disappearance of sunlight' = overcast); विशेषणम् (of gaganaṃ)

• विद्युन्मालाससमाकुलैः: with masses of lightning-flashes
• विद्युन्मालाससमाकुलैः: उपमान-करण (Instrument in simile)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विद्युत् + माला + समाकुल (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुषः ('garlands of lightning' + 'filled/confused'); विशेषणम् (of ghanair)

Context

By the speed of the arrows with sharp heads, with plumes of eagles, the shower of extremely pointed arrows covering the sky made it dark and seemed like windows in the sky.

Characters & Entities

• gagana (sky)
• bāṇa (arrows)
• ghana (clouds)
• vidyut (lightning)

FAQs

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

The imagery conveys how war can darken the world itself; dharma aims to end such disorder and restore clarity, safety, and truth (satya).

What is the narrative situation?

The exchange of missiles becomes so dense that it visually transforms the sky.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Not a single virtue is explicit; the verse emphasizes the scale of conflict, against which dharmic resolution becomes urgent.