Shloka 18

युद्धाय रावणस्य निर्याणं तथा उत्पातदर्शनम्

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

Devanagari script

हतोभर्ताहतोभ्रातायासां च चतनयोहतः ।वधेनाद्यरिपोस्तासांकरोम्यश्रुप्रमार्जनम् ।।6.96.18।।

Transliteration

hato bhartā hato bhrātā yāsāṃ ca ca tanayo hataḥ | vadhenādya ripos tāsāṃ karomy aśru-pramārjanam ||6.96.18||

Translation

„Indem ich heute den Feind töte, werde ich die Tränen jener Frauen abwischen, deren Gatte erschlagen ist, deren Bruder erschlagen ist und deren Sohn ebenfalls erschlagen ist“, sagte Rāvaṇa.

Word by Word

• हतः: killed
• हतः: कर्तृ-विशेषण/विधेय (predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle) ‘killed’; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; (predicate adjective)

• भर्ता: husband
• भर्ता: कर्ता (of implied ‘is’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हतः: killed
• हतः: विधेय
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भ्राता: brother
• भ्राता: कर्ता (of implied ‘is’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• यासाम्: whose (of whom)
• यासाम्: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक (whose)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• तनयः: son
• तनयः: कर्ता (of implied ‘is’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तनय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हतः: killed
• हतः: विधेय
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वधेन: by the killing
• वधेन: करण/हेतु
• Type: Noun
• Root: वध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया, एकवचन; हेतुसाधन (means/cause)

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

• रिपोः: of the enemy
• रिपोः: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Noun
• Root: रिपु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी, एकवचन

• तासाम्: of those (women)
• तासाम्: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• करोमि: I do/make
• करोमि: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद; उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अश्रुप्रमार्जनम्: wiping away tears
• अश्रुप्रमार्जनम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्रु (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रमार्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अश्रूणां प्रमार्जनम् = wiping of tears); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

Context

"Today through the destruction of the enemy I will wipe the tears of the one whose son has been killed, whose brother has been killed."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• ripū (enemy—contextually Rāma’s side)

FAQs

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

It shows a common ethical error: trying to heal grief through further harm. The Ramayana’s dharma framework rejects “compassion” that is built on injustice; satya requires acknowledging one’s role in causing suffering.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa interprets Laṅkā’s mourning as a reason to intensify violence, claiming that killing the enemy will console the bereaved.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The implied virtue is true compassion (dayā) guided by righteousness—seeking restoration through dharma rather than escalating vengeance.