Shloka 19

युद्धाय रावणस्य निर्याणं तथा उत्पातदर्शनम्

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

Devanagari script

अद्यमद्भाणनिर्भिन्नैःप्रकीर्णैर्गतचेतनैः ।करोमिवानरैर्युद्धेयत्नावेक्ष्यतलांमहीम् ।।6.96.19।।

Transliteration

adya madbāṇa-nirbhinnaiḥ prakīrṇair gata-cetanaiḥ |

karomi vānarair yuddhe yatnāvīkṣya-talāṁ mahīm ||6.96.19||

Translation

„Heute, im Kampf, werde ich die Erde mit Vānara bedecken — von meinen Pfeilen gespalten, zerstreut und des Lebens beraubt — sodass man den Boden nur noch mit Mühe erkennen wird“, (sagte Rāvaṇa).

Word by Word

• अद्य: today
• अद्य: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• मत्-बाण-निर्भिन्नैः: split open by my arrows
• मत्-बाण-निर्भिन्नैः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + nir-bhid (धातु) → nirbhinna (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया (करण) बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (instrumental plural masculine; qualifying)

• प्रकीर्णैः: scattered
• प्रकीर्णैः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-kṝ (धातु) → prakīrṇa (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• गत-चेतनैः: lifeless, having lost consciousness
• गत-चेतनैः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gata (कृदन्त; √gam) + cetanā/cetas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• करोमि: I make / I render
• करोमि: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान) उत्तमपुरुषः एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• वानरैः: by the vanaras
• वानरैः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम् (instrumental plural)

• युद्धे: in battle
• युद्धे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी एकवचनम् (locative singular)

• यत्न-आवेक्ष्य-तलाम्: whose surface is seen only with effort
• यत्न-आवेक्ष्य-तलाम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yatna (प्रातिपदिक) + ā-√īkṣ (धातु) → āvekṣya (कृदन्त; तुमुन्/ल्यप्-भाव) + talā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (accusative singular feminine; qualifying महीम्)

• महीम्: the earth
• महीम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् (accusative singular)

Context

Ravana remained silent for long, thought for a moment and assumed a terrific angry form.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Vānaras
• Mahī (earth)

FAQs

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

It warns against adharma expressed as cruelty and boastful violence; Dharma restrains power with righteousness and compassion, not domination.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa proclaims his intent to slaughter the Vānara army, describing the battlefield as covered with their bodies.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse foregrounds the vice of arrogance and bloodlust; by implication, the epic upholds humility and righteous conduct in war.