Shloka 176

Devanagari script

ततस्तुतेतस्यवधेनभूरिणामनस्विनोनैरृतराजबान्धवाः ।विनेदुरुच्चैर्व्यथितारघूत्तमंहरिंसमीक्ष्यैवयथासुरार्धिताः ।।।।

Transliteration

tatas tu te tasya vadhena bhūriṇā manasvino nairṛta-rāja-bāndhavāḥ |

vinedur uccair vyathitā raghūttamaṃ hariṃ samīkṣyaiva yathā surārdhitāḥ ||

Translation

Daraufhin schrien die standhaften Verwandten des Königs der Rākṣasas, durch seinen Tod zutiefst erschüttert, laut in Not auf; sie fürchteten den Besten der Raghu, wie Elefanten beim Anblick Indras, des von den Devas verehrten Gottes, in Panik geraten.

Word by Word

ततःthereupon

तुthen

तेthey

तस्यof him

वधेनby the killing/death

भूरिणाgreatly

मनस्विनःhigh-spirited

नैरृत-राज-बान्धवाःkinsmen of the king of rakshasas (Ravana)

विनेदुःcried out

उच्चैःloudly

व्यथिताःdistressed

रघूत्तमम्Raghuttama (Rama)

हरिम्Hari (Rama)

समीक्ष्यhaving seen

एवjust/indeed

यथाas

सुर-अर्धिताःas (those) oppressed by the gods

Context

Thereupon, the courageous kinsfolk of Ravana, resolute in mind, pained by the death of Kumbhakarna, feared the foremost of Raghus, just as elephants feared seeing the Lord of Devatas, and emitted loud cries.

Characters & Entities

Rāvaṇa

Kumbhakarṇa

Rāma (Raghūttama)

Rākṣasas (Nairṛtas)

Indra (implied by surārdhita)

Elephants (Hari)

FAQs

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

Adharma brings inner instability: when a pillar of an unrighteous cause falls, even the strong-hearted lose confidence. The verse hints that moral imbalance produces fear and disorder among its supporters.

What is the narrative situation?

After Kumbhakarṇa’s death, Rāvaṇa’s relatives/allies are alarmed and lament loudly, recognizing Rāma as an overwhelming force.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s awe-inspiring majesty (tejas) grounded in righteous purpose—his presence itself becomes a deterrent to further wrongdoing.