Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 94, Shloka 28

रावणस्य सभाप्रवेशः — रामस्य शरवृष्ट्या राक्षससेनाविनाशः

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

Devanagari script

भ्रमन्तीकाञ्चनींकोटिंकार्मुकस्यमहात्मनः ।अलातचक्रप्रतिमांददृशुस्ते न राघवम् ।।।।

Transliteration

bhramantīṃ kāñcanīṃ koṭiṃ kārmukasya mahātmanaḥ |

alāta-cakra-pratimāṃ dadṛśus te na rāghavam ||

Translation

Als der großherzige Rāghava sich rasch mit seinem Bogen im Kreis bewegte, sahen sie nur dessen goldene Spitze, gleich einem wirbelnden Feuerbrand, und konnten Rāma selbst nicht erkennen.

Word by Word

• भ्रमन्ती: whirling
• भ्रमन्ती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्रम् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (शतृ/स्त्रीलिङ्ग present participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifying ‘कोटिम्’

• काञ्चनीम्: golden
• काञ्चनीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काञ्चनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘कोटिम्’

• कोटिम्: tip/edge (of the bow)
• कोटिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; object of ‘ददृशुः’

• कार्मुकस्य: of the bow
• कार्मुकस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्मुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled (one)
• महात्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक: महा + आत्मन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; विशेषण of implied possessor (Rama)

• अलातचक्रप्रतिमाम्: like a firebrand-wheel
• अलातचक्रप्रतिमाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अलातचक्रप्रतिमा (प्रातिपदिक: अलातचक्र + प्रतिमा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘कोटिम्’; समास: तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: अलातचक्रस्य प्रतिमा)

• ददृशुः: saw
• ददृशुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• राघवम्: Raghava (Rama)
• राघवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Context

People saw Rama in the form of wheel exterminating the Rakshasas on the battlefield, which had the body of Sri Rama as its navel, his strength as its glow, the arrows as spokes, his bow as belly, the twangling of the bowstring as its sound, his virtues and effulgence as the power of his mystic missiles in war. Rama was seen as a wheel of time spirit by the people.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Bow

FAQs

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

Dharma here appears as protective power rightly wielded: Rāma’s mastery in battle functions to subdue adharma while minimizing disorder among the righteous side.

What is the narrative situation?

In the thick of battle, Rāma’s speed and technique are so extraordinary that the enemies perceive only a spinning golden arc of the bow, not his body.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vīrya (valor) and kauśala (martial skill), joined with steadiness of purpose.