Shloka 18

युद्धकाण्डे त्रिपञ्चाशः सर्गः — धूम्राक्षवधश्रवणं, वज्रदंष्ट्रप्रेषणं, अङ्गद-राक्षसयुद्धम्

Ravana Dispatches Vajradamshtra; Portents and Angada’s Assault

Devanagari script

ततःप्रवृत्तंतुमुलंहरीणांराक्षसैस्सह ।घोराणांभीमरूपाणामन्योन्यवथकाङ् क्षिणाम् ।।।।

Transliteration

tataḥ pravṛttaṃ tumulaṃ harīṇāṃ rākṣasaiḥ saha |

ghorāṇāṃ bhīmarūpāṇām anyonyavathakāṅkṣiṇām ||

Translation

Da entbrannte ein tobender Kampf zwischen den Heerscharen der Vānara und den Rākṣasa—schrecklich, von furchterregender Gestalt—und jede Seite trachtete nach der Vernichtung der anderen.

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereupon
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb); अर्थे: तस्मात्/तदनन्तरम् (thereupon/then)

• प्रवृत्तम्: began/started (arose)
• प्रवृत्तम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√vṛt (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: कृत्यन्त/कृदन्त: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter nom/acc sg); भावे/कर्मणि प्रयोगः (having begun/started)

• तुमुलम्: tumultuous/intense
• तुमुलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tumula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (neuter nom/acc sg; adjective qualifying ‘प्रवृत्तम्/युद्धम्’)

• हरीणाम्: of the Vanaras
• हरीणाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन (masc gen pl)

• राक्षसैः: with the Rakshasas
• राक्षसैः: Sahakari/Karana (करण/सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (masc instr pl)

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahartha (सहार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक-उपपद (postposition meaning ‘with’)

• घोराणाम्: of dreadful (ones)
• घोराणाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (gen pl; qualifying ‘भीमरूपाणाम्/…काङ्क्षिणाम्’)

• भीमरूपाणाम्: of terrible-formed (ones)
• भीमरूपाणाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhīma (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (gen pl; ‘having terrible form’)

• अन्योन्यवथकाङ्क्षिणाम्: of those desiring each other’s slaughter
• अन्योन्यवथकाङ्क्षिणाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anyonya (प्रातिपदिक) + vatha (प्रातिपदिक) + kāṅkṣin (प्रातिपदिक; from √kāṅkṣ)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (उपपद/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘अन्योन्यस्य वथम् काङ्क्षन्ति’); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन (masc gen pl)

Context

Vanaras who assumed victory, seeing the Rakshasas coming out stretching filled all the ten directions with loud noise.

Characters & Entities

• Vānaras (harayaḥ)
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

The verse underscores the gravity of violence: Dharma frames war as a grave necessity, demanding right cause and restraint, not mere lust for slaughter.

What is the narrative situation?

The main clash resumes, with Vānaras and Rākṣasas engaging in fierce, chaotic combat.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage and steadfastness are central, alongside the implied dharmic need for controlled force rather than indiscriminate brutality.