Shloka 15

युद्धाय रावणस्य निर्याणं तथा उत्पातदर्शनम्

Ravana’s Mobilization for War and the ظهور of Fatal Portents

Devanagari script

व्याकोशपद्मवक्त्राणिपद्मकेसरवर्चसाम् ।अद्ययूथतटाकानिगजवत्प्रमथाम्यहम् ।।6.96.15।।

Transliteration

vyākośa-padma-vaktrāṇi padma-kesara-varcasām | adya yūtha-taṭākāni gajavat pramathāmy aham ||6.96.15||

Translation

«Heute werde ich die Teich-Scharen jener Vānara verwüsten—deren Gesichter wie weit geöffnete Lotosblüten sind und deren Glanz dem Lotosfaden gleicht—wie ein Elefant Teiche zertritt», prahlte Rāvaṇa.

Word by Word

• व्याकोशपद्मवक्त्राणि: having faces like open lotuses
• व्याकोशपद्मवक्त्राणि: कर्म-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्याकोश (प्रातिपदिक) + पद्म (प्रातिपदिक) + वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास (मुखानि व्याकोशपद्मवत् = faces like open lotuses); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (of यूथतटाकानि)

• पद्मकेसरवर्चसाम्: with the radiance of lotus-filaments
• पद्मकेसरवर्चसाम्: सम्बन्ध/विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक) + केसर (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्चस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास (पद्मकेसरस्य वर्चसा = with the luster of lotus-filaments); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (of यूथतटाकानि)

• अद्य: today
• अद्य: कालाधिकरण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक

• यूथतटाकानि: troop-ponds (troops like ponds)
• यूथतटाकानि: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: यूथ (प्रातिपदिक) + तटाक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (यूथानि इव तटाकानि = ponds-like troops; metaphorical); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• गजवत्: like an elephant
• गजवत्: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: गजवत् (अव्यय/तद्धित)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमावाचक (simile adverb: like an elephant)

• प्रमथामि: I crush/torment
• प्रमथामि: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-मथ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद; उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

"Like an elephant now I shall torment the ponds in the form of battalions of Vanaras shining like the filaments of lotuses, with their faces resembling open lotuses."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• gaja (elephant)
• padma (lotus)

FAQs

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

The verse warns how cruelty can target even what is beautiful and noble. Dharma protects the innocent and the devoted; adharma delights in trampling them.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa continues to describe, in vivid metaphors, how he intends to crush the vānara formations.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse indirectly honors the vānaras’ vigor and radiance (their “lotus-like” presence), implying purity of purpose in their support of Rāma.