Shloka 10

रावणवधोत्तरं विभीषणशोकः—क्षत्रधर्मोपदेशः

Vibhishana’s Lament after Ravana’s Fall; Instruction on Kshatriya-Dharma

Devanagari script

धृतिप्रवालःप्रसह्याग्य्रपुष्पस्तपोबलश्शौर्यनिबद्धमूलः ।रणेमहान्राक्षसराजवृक्षःसम्मर्दितोराघवमारुतेन ।।।।

Transliteration

dhṛtipravālaḥ prasahyāgryapuṣpas tapobalaś śauryanibaddhamūlaḥ |

raṇe mahān rākṣasarājavṛkṣaḥ sammardito rāghavamārutena ||

Translation

Im Kampf wurde der große «Baum», der der Rākṣasa-König war—dessen Triebe Standhaftigkeit, dessen erlesenste Blüten trotzige Gewalt, dessen Kraft aus Tapas geboren und dessen Wurzeln durch Heldenmut gebunden waren—vom Sturmwind Rāghavas zermalmt.

Word by Word

धृति-प्रवालःhaving fortitude as tender shoots

प्रसह्य-अग्र्य-पुष्पःhaving stubbornness as its excellent flowers

तपो-बलःhaving austerity as strength

शौर्य-निबद्ध-मूलःwith roots bound/firmed by valor

रणेin battle

महान्great

राक्षस-राज-वृक्षःthe tree that is the king of Rakshasas

सम्मर्दितःcrushed

राघव-मारुतेनby the wind (tempest) of Raghava

Context

"The great tree in the form of Rakshasa king, with its firmness as leaves, stubbornness as its blossom, austerity as strength, valour as strong roots, was crushed by the tempest of Raghava in the battlefield."

Characters & Entities

Rāghava (Rāma)

Rākṣasa-king (Rāvaṇa implied)

Battlefield (raṇa)

FAQs

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

Dharma ultimately overcomes adharma: even formidable power, discipline, and valor become futile when rooted in unrighteous aims.

What is the narrative situation?

A metaphorical description of Rāvaṇa’s defeat portrays him as a mighty tree felled by Rāma as a tempest.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s righteous might—power exercised as the instrument of dharma, decisive and world-restoring.