Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 110, Shloka 7

रामरावणयोर्युद्धवैषम्यं तथा रावणशिरश्छेदनम्

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

Devanagari script

धुरंधुरेणरथयोर्वक्त्रंवक्त्रेणवाजिनाम् ।।।।पताकाश्चपताकाभिस्समीयुस्स्थितयोस्तदा ।

Transliteration

dhuraṃdhureṇa rathayor vaktraṃ vaktreṇa vājinām | patākāś ca patākābhiḥ samīyuḥ sthitayos tadā ||

Translation

Als sie hielten, drängten sich die beiden Wagen dicht aneinander—Achse an Achse; die Gesichter der Rosse standen fast von Angesicht zu Angesicht; und Fahne traf Fahne, als wären beide miteinander verbunden.

Word by Word

• dhuraṃdhureṇa: with the pole/axle
• dhuraṃdhureṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhuraṃdhura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; ‘by/with the pole/axle (of the chariot)’

• rathayoḥ: of the two chariots
• rathayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Dual

• vaktram: front/face
• vaktram: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaktra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; here as subject with samīyuḥ (neuter plural often expected, but poetic usage: ‘front/face’ as meeting point)

• vaktreṇa: with (their) face/front
• vaktreṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaktra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• vājinām: of the horses
• vājinām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vājin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• patākāḥ: flags
• patākāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patākā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• ca: and
• ca: Samucchaya-dyotaka (समुच्चय-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• patākābhiḥ: with flags
• patākābhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patākā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

• samīyuḥ: met/came together
• samīyuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: i (धातु) + sam (उपसर्ग)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Plural; ‘came together/met’

• sthitayoḥ: of the two standing
• sthitayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Genitive, Dual; ‘of the two standing’

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of time

Context

Then those two, having seen many movements, once again stood facing each other in the battlefield.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Rāvaṇa
• chariots (ratha/syandana)
• horses (vājin)

FAQs

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

The verse underscores the solemnity of direct confrontation: dharma-yuddha is not hidden or evasive; it meets the opponent openly, at close quarters, under witness of all.

What is the narrative situation?

The two chariots draw extremely near while both warriors pause, creating an intense face-to-face standoff.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sāhasa (boldness) tempered by control—closing distance without losing composure.