Shloka 90

युद्धलक्षण-निमित्तदर्शनं तथा लङ्काद्वारव्यूहः

War Omens and the Encirclement of Lanka’s Gates

Devanagari script

तत्पफालपदाक्रान्तंदशग्रीवस्यपश्यतः ।पुराहिमवतश्शृङ्गंवज्रिणेवविदारितम् ।।6.41.90।।

Transliteration

tat paphāla padākrāntaṃ daśagrīvasya paśyataḥ | purā himavataḥ śṛṅgaṃ vajriṇeva vidāritam || 6.41.90 ||

Translation

Vor den Augen Daśagrīvas spaltete sich das Bauwerk unter dem Tritt seines Fußes, wie einst ein Gipfel des Himavat von Vajrin, Indra, zerschmettert wurde.

Word by Word

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (singular); demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally

• paphāla: cleft, split piece
• paphāla: Viśeṣya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paphāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (singular)

• pada-ākrāntam: trampled underfoot
• pada-ākrāntam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक) + ā√kram (धातु) → ākrānta (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound: pada-ākrānta = 'trampled by foot'; ākrānta (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle), Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; agrees with paphāla

• daśa-grīvasya: of Daśagrīva (Rāvaṇa)
• daśa-grīvasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa (प्रातिपदिक) + grīva (प्रातिपदिक) → daśagrīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi (बहुव्रीहि) proper name 'one who has ten necks' = Rāvaṇa; Masculine, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th/षष्ठी), Ekavacana

• paśyataḥ: while (he) was looking
• paśyataḥ: Kāla/Avadhāraṇa (काल/सापेक्ष-स्थितिः)
• Type: Verb
• Root: paśyat (कृदन्त, शतृ from √dṛś/paśy)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th), Ekavacana; used as genitive absolute: 'while (he) was seeing'

• purā: formerly, earlier
• purā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb of time (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• himavataḥ: of Himavat (the Himalaya)
• himavataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: himavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th), Ekavacana

• śṛṅgam: peak, summit
• śṛṅgam: Upamāna-karta (उपमान-कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śṛṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; subject of implied 'was split' in simile

• vajriṇā: by Vajrin (Indra)
• vajriṇā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajrin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana

• iva: like, as
• iva: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; upamā-vācaka particle (उपमावाचक)

• vidāritam: split, shattered
• vidāritam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi√dṛ (धातु) → vidārita (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; agrees with (tat) paphāla

Context

As Ravana was looking, Angada trampling his feet gave way to the palace just as Himalayan peak broke to hit Indra.

Characters & Entities

• Daśagrīva (Rāvaṇa)
• Himavat (Himalaya)

FAQs

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

Adharma founded on arrogance and oppression is inherently unstable; even what seems unshakable (a palace/peak) can裂 when confronted by rightful resistance.

What is the narrative situation?

During the siege of Laṅkā, a vanara hero’s forceful act causes a palace structure to split while Rāvaṇa looks on, heightening the psychological pressure on the rākṣasas.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fearless resolve (dhairya) and deterrent courage—strength used to break the enemy’s pride and weaken his morale.