Shloka 31

रावणशूलप्रक्षेपः

Ravana Hurls the Trident; Rama Counters with Indra’s Javelin

Devanagari script

स शरैर्भिन्नसर्वाङ्गोगात्रप्रसृतशोणितः ।राक्षसेन्द्रस्समूहस्थःफुल्लाशोकइवाबभौ ।।।।

Transliteration

sa śarair bhinna-sarvāṅgo gātra-prasṛta-śoṇitaḥ |

rākṣasendras samūha-sthaḥ phullāśoka ivābabhau ||

Translation

Mit von Pfeilen durchbohrtem Körper und Blut, das aus seinen Gliedern strömte, leuchtete der Herr der Rakshasas wie ein blühender Ashoka-Baum.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• śaraiḥ: by arrows
• śaraiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; करण

• bhinna-sarva-aṅgaḥ: with all limbs pierced
• bhinna-sarva-aṅgaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhinna (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (भिन्नानि सर्वाणि अङ्गानि यस्य), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सः/राक्षसेन्द्रः विशेषयति

• gātra-prasṛta-śoṇitaḥ: with blood flowing from the body
• gātra-prasṛta-śoṇitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gātra (प्रातिपदिक) + pra-√sṛ (धातु) [prasṛta] + śoṇita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (गात्रेभ्यः प्रसृतं शोणितं यस्य), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• rākṣasa-indraḥ: the lord of Rakshasas
• rākṣasa-indraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (राक्षसानाम् इन्द्रः), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• samūha-sthaḥ: standing amid the host
• samūha-sthaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samūha (प्रातिपदिक) + stha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (समूहे स्थितः), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; राक्षसेन्द्रः विशेषयति

• phulla-aśokaḥ: a blossoming aśoka tree
• phulla-aśokaḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phulla (प्रातिपदिक) + aśoka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (फुल्लः अशोकः), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपमान

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (उपमा-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक अव्यय

• ababhau: shone/appeared
• ababhau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√bhā (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Context

Then from the aerial chariots, Devas, Gandharvas, great Nagas, sages, devils, giants, birds, and eagles watched the duel war that went on between the heroes clashing with different kinds of frightening weapons like at the dissolution of the world.

Characters & Entities

• Rākṣasendra (Rāvaṇa)
• Rākṣasas (assembly/host)
• Aśoka tree
• arrows (śara)

FAQs

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

The verse implicitly teaches that outward splendor can coexist with inner downfall; dharma judges by righteousness, not by dramatic appearance or charisma.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa is grievously wounded by arrows; despite bleeding, he remains visible among his forces, described through a vivid simile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Endurance (dhairya) in adversity—though in Rāvaṇa’s case it is endurance still bound to adharma, not repentance.