Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 110, Shloka 22

रामरावणयोर्युद्धवैषम्यं तथा रावणशिरश्छेदनम्

Rama–Ravana Duel Intensifies; Ravana’s Heads Severed and Reappear

Devanagari script

स्वस्तिगोब्राह्मणेभ्योऽस्तुलोकास्तिष्ठन्तुशाश्वताः ।जयतांराघयसङ्ख्येरावणंराक्षसेश्वरम् ।।6.110.21।।एवंजपन्तोऽपश्यंस्तेदेवास्सर्षिगणास्तदा ।रामरावणयोर्युद्धंसुघोरंरोमहर्षणम् ।।6.110.22।।

Transliteration

evaṃ japanto 'paśyaṃs te devāḥ sarṣi-gaṇās tadā | rāma-rāvaṇayor yuddhaṃ sughoraṃ romaharṣaṇam ||

Translation

So murmelnd erblickten die Devas und die Scharen der ṛṣis damals die Schlacht zwischen Rāma und Rāvaṇa — überaus schrecklich und schaudererregend.

Word by Word

• अर्धयन्: hurting
• अर्धयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्धय् (धातु, causative of अर्ध्/अर्द् 'to hurt') + शतृ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present participle) कर्तरि—"hurting"

• रावणम्: Ravana
• रावणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्ता

• राघवम्: Raghava (Rama)
• राघवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (also/even)

• रावणः: Ravana
• रावणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्ता

• गति-वेगम्: speed of movement
• गति-वेगम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक) + वेग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (गतिः च वेगः/गतेः वेगः)

• समापन्नौ: both attained/engaged
• समापन्नौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आपद् (धातु) + क्त (समापन्न)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, द्विवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, विधेय (predicate) — "having reached/engaged"

• प्रतिवेग-प्रवर्तने: in counter-attack momentum
• प्रतिवेग-प्रवर्तने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रति-वेग (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रवर्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः; अधिकरण (locative: in the act of counter-speed/retaliation)

Context

"May the hosts of sages, Devas, cows and brahmanas be auspicious. May all the worlds endure forever. May Rama conquer Ravana, the Rakshasa king," chanting in that manner all witnessed the terrific war between Rama and Ravana that caused hair to stand.

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Ṛṣis
• Rāma
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

The verse underlines that a dharmic resolution may still be fearsome in execution; righteous ends do not erase the gravity of violence and its cosmic significance.

What is the narrative situation?

Celestial spectators continue watching the climactic duel while uttering auspicious chants.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfastness in pursuing Dharma despite terror and uncertainty—implicitly embodied by Rāma in the duel.