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Shloka 30

रावण–रामयुद्धप्रारम्भः

The Intensification of the Rama–Ravana Duel

शरान्धकारमाकाशंचक्रतुःप्रथमंतदा ।गतेऽस्तं तपने चापि महामेघाविवोथतितौ ।।6.100.30।।

śarāndhakāram ākāśaṃ cakratuḥ prathamaṃ tadā | gate 'staṃ tapane cāpi mahāmeghāv ivothitau ||6.100.30||

Dann, gleich zu Beginn, machten sie den Himmel durch ihre Pfeile zur Finsternis; und obgleich die Sonne untergegangen war, schien es, als stiegen zwei gewaltige Sturmwolken empor.

शरान्धकारम्darkness of arrows
शरान्धकारम्:
कर्म (Karma/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootशर + अन्धकार (प्रातिपदिकौ)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ('of arrows' + 'darkness')
आकाशम्the sky
आकाशम्:
कर्म (Karma/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootआकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)
चक्रतुःthey made/created
चक्रतुः:
क्रिया (Verb)
TypeVerb
Rootकृ (धातु)
Formलिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), द्विवचन (Dual); परस्मैपदम्
प्रथमम्at first
प्रथमम्:
क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootप्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
Formअव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: at first/firstly)
तदाthen
तदा:
कालाधिकरण (Time adjunct)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतदा (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय, कालवाचक
गतेwhen (it) had gone
गते:
सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध (Locative absolute component)
TypeAdjective
Rootगम् (धातु)
Formक्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); 'when (it) had gone'
अस्तम्to setting (west)
अस्तम्:
गति-लक्ष्य (Goal in idiom)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
Formअव्यय (Avyaya), दिशावाचक/गत्यर्थे (as in 'astam gam' = to set)
तपनेin the sun (when the sun...)
तपने:
अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location-time)
TypeNoun
Rootतपन (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)
and
:
समुच्चय (Coordinator)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक
अपिeven/though
अपि:
सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय, अवधान/समुच्चय (particle: also/even/though)
महामेघौtwo great clouds
महामेघौ:
उपमान (Standard of comparison)
TypeNoun
Rootमहा + मेघ (प्रातिपदिकौ)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), द्विवचन (Dual); कर्मधारयः ('great' + 'clouds')
इवlike
इव:
उपमान (Simile marker)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय, उपमानसूचक
उथतितौthey rose/loomed
उथतितौ:
क्रिया (Verb)
TypeVerb
Rootउत्-स्था (धातु)
Formलिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), द्विवचन (Dual); आत्मनेपदम्; रूपं पाठभेद/सन्धि-प्रभावितम् (intended sense: 'they rose/loomed')

Then the sky covered with darkness of arrows was like two huge clouds rising even though the Sun had set.

R
Rāma
R
Rāvaṇa
S
sun (tapana)
S
sky (ākāśa)
C
clouds (megha)

FAQs

Dharma here is implicit: the duel is conducted as a formal kṣatriya battle, where prowess is shown openly in a face-to-face contest rather than through deceit.

Rāma and Rāvaṇa begin exchanging such dense volleys of arrows that the sky appears darkened, like storm-clouds despite sunset.

Martial steadiness and disciplined valor—both combatants sustain an intense, ordered exchange characteristic of heroic warfare.