Shloka 9
रावणरथवैभव–निमित्तदर्शन–राममातलिसंवादः
Ravana’s Chariot, Portents, and Rama–Matali Instructions
मातलेपश्यसम्रद्धमापतन्तंरथंरिपोः ।।।।यथापसव्यंपततावेगेनमहतापुनः ।समरेहन्तुमात्मानंतथानेनकृतामतिः ।।।।
mātale paśya samrabdham āpatantaṃ rathaṃ ripoḥ | yathāpasavyaṃ patatā vegena mahatā punaḥ | samare hantum ātmānaṃ tathānena kṛtā matiḥ ||
„Mātali, sieh: wie der Wagen des Feindes in tollkühner Erregung heranstürzt und dann, mit großer Geschwindigkeit, wieder in entgegengesetzter Bahn zurückkehrt. Mir scheint, sein Entschluss ist, sich in dieser Schlacht selbst zugrunde zu richten.“
The flow of arrows (from Ravana) released from the chariot were seen by Rama like the flow of water from rain clouds. Seeing that, Sri Rama made terrific sounds by stretching his bow to crescent shape, and it was as if a mountain struck by thunderbolt had broken and resounding and seeing Matali, charioteer of Indra, Sri Rama spoke as follows.
FAQs
Righteous action includes clear perception and truthful assessment: Rāma interprets the enemy’s inauspicious movement as self-destructive adharma leading to ruin.
Rāma notices Rāvaṇa’s chariot maneuvering oddly and comments to Mātali, reading it as a sign of impending downfall.
Prudence and truthfulness—Rāma speaks plainly and judges the battlefield signs without delusion.