Shloka 12

युद्धलक्षण-निमित्तदर्शनं तथा लङ्काद्वारव्यूहः

War Omens and the Encirclement of Lanka’s Gates

Devanagari script

लोकक्षयकरंभीमंभयंपश्याम्युपस्थितम् ।निबर्हणंप्रवीराणामृक्षवानररक्षसाम् ।।6.41.12।।

Transliteration

loka-kṣaya-karaṃ bhīmaṃ bhayaṃ paśyāmy upasthitam |

nibarhaṇaṃ pravīrāṇām ṛkṣa-vānara-rakṣasām ||6.41.12||

Translation

Ich sehe ein schreckliches Grauen herannahen, das die Welt zu vernichten vermag: ein Gemetzel an den vorzüglichsten Helden unter Bären, Affen und Rākṣasas.

Word by Word

• loka-kṣaya-karam: causing destruction of the world
• loka-kṣaya-karam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक) + kṣaya (प्रातिपदिक) + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) ‘lokasya kṣayaḥ’ + ‘kṣayaṃ karoti’; Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; adjective qualifying ‘bhayam’

• bhīmam: terrible
• bhīmam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhīma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; adjective qualifying ‘bhayam’

• bhayam: fear
• bhayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• paśyāmi: I see
• paśyāmi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्/present), Parasmaipada, 1st Person, Singular

• upasthitam: approaching/present
• upasthitam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa-sthā (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृत), Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; agrees with ‘bhayam’

• nibarhaṇam: destruction/overthrow
• nibarhaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ni-barh (धातु)
• Form: Action noun (ल्युट्/अन-प्रत्यय sense), Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; apposition to ‘bhayam’

• pravīrāṇām: of the eminent heroes
• pravīrāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pravīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• ṛkṣa-vānara-rakṣasām: of bears, monkeys, and rākṣasas
• ṛkṣa-vānara-rakṣasām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + vānara (प्रातिपदिक) + rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva (द्वन्द्व) enumerative; Genitive (6th), Plural; (of bears, monkeys, and rākṣasas)

Context

"Lakshmana! We should occupy a region with cool water and good fruits and plan to divide the army and be ready."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Ṛkṣas (bears)
• Vānaras (monkeys)
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Dharma recognizes the grave cost of violence: even when war is necessary, a righteous leader remains truthful about suffering and does not romanticize destruction.

What is the narrative situation?

As ominous signs intensify, Rāma anticipates heavy casualties among all combatant groups.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Truthfulness (satya) and moral seriousness—Rāma confronts the reality of war and its consequences.