Shloka 37

युद्धाय रावणस्य निर्याणं तथा उत्पातदर्शनम्

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

Devanagari script

अन्तरिक्षात्पपातोल्कानिराघतसमनिर्घास्वना ।विनेदुरशिवागृध्रावायसैरभिमिश्रिताः ।।6.96.37।।

Transliteration

antarikṣāt papātolkā nirāghāta-samanirghāsa-svanā |

vinēdur aśivā gṛdhrā vāyasair abhimiśritāḥ ||6.96.37||

Translation

Aus dem Himmel stürzte ein Meteor herab, dröhnend wie Donner; und unheilvolle Rufe erschallten—Geier und Krähen riefen durcheinander.

Word by Word

• अन्तरिक्षात्: from the sky
• अन्तरिक्षात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तरिक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular)

• पपात: fell
• पपात: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• उल्का: a meteor
• उल्का: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उल्का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• निर्घातसमनिर्घास्वना: sounding like thunder
• निर्घातसमनिर्घास्वना: कर्तृविशेषण (Karta-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्घात (प्रातिपदिक) + सम (प्रातिपदिक) + निर्घास्वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative: निर्घातेन समः निर्घास्वनः), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• विनेदुः: cried out
• विनेदुः: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+नद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• अशिवाः: inauspicious ones (birds/creatures)
• अशिवाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• गृध्रवायसैः: with vultures and crows
• गृध्रवायसैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृध्र (प्रातिपदिक) + वायस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (copulative), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अभिमिश्रिताः: mixed/combined
• अभिमिश्रिताः: कर्तृविशेषण (Karta-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि+मिश्र् (धातु) → अभिमिश्रित (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

Context

A meteor had fallen from the sky resembling thunder, coupled with inauspicious eagle cries.

Characters & Entities

• ulkā (meteor)
• gṛdhra (vulture)
• vāyasa (crow)
• antarikṣa (sky)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights moral causality: ominous signs accompany unrighteous intent. In the Ramayana’s dharmic worldview, nature itself reflects the ethical disorder (adharma) that precedes destructive action.

What is the narrative situation?

On the eve of renewed fighting, terrifying omens appear—meteor and ill-boding bird-cries—foreshadowing impending calamity for the unrighteous side.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discernment (viveka) is implied by contrast: a wise leader would heed warnings and restrain harmful action; ignoring such signals leads toward ruin.