Valmiki Ramayana 6.94.18 — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 94, Shloka 18

रावणस्य सभाप्रवेशः — रामस्य शरवृष्ट्या राक्षससेनाविनाशः

Ravana Enters Council; Rama’s Arrow-Storm Destroys the Rakshasa Host

Devanagari script

ततोरामोमहातेजाधनुरादायवीर्यवान् ।प्रविश्यराक्षसंसैन्यंशरवर्षंववर्ष ह ।।।।

Transliteration

tato rāmo mahātejā dhanur ādāya vīryavān |

praviśya rākṣasa-sainyaṃ śaravarṣaṃ vavarṣa ha ||

Translation

Da nahm Rāma, von großer Strahlkraft und heldenhaft an Kraft, seinen Bogen, drang in die Reihen der Rākṣasas ein und ließ einen Pfeilregen auf sie niedergehen.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kāla-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/परिणामवाचक (then/thereupon)

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्

• महातेजाः: of great splendor
• महातेजाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + tejas (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिः (महत्तेजो यस्य सः); पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् रामः

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्

• आदाय: having taken up
• आदाय: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā√dā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund)

• वीर्यवान्: valiant
• वीर्यवान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīrya + vat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् रामः

• प्रविश्य: having entered
• प्रविश्य: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pra√viś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund)

• राक्षसम्: Rakshasa (belonging to Rakshasas)
• राक्षसम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् सैन्यम्

• सैन्यम्: army
• सैन्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sainya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्

• शरवर्षम्: a rain of arrows
• शरवर्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara + varṣa (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (शराणां वर्षम्); नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्

• ववर्ष: showered
• ववर्ष: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛṣ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect) परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः एकवचनम्

• ह: indeed
• ह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ha (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis)

Context

Then, the highly energetic and valiant Rama, taking up the bow showered rain of arrows on Rakshasa army.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• bow (dhanuḥ)
• Rākṣasa army

FAQs

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

It exemplifies the kṣatriya-dharma of protection: when the innocent and allied forces are endangered, the righteous leader intervenes decisively to restore order.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma responds to the vānaras’ distress by advancing into the enemy formation and launching a powerful arrow assault.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Protective courage—swift, competent action taken for the sake of those who have sought refuge.