Shloka 21

Śrī Rāmacandra-avatāra — Vow, Exile, Laṅkā-vijaya, and Rāma-rājya

Concise Bhāgavata Account

Devanagari script

रक्ष:पति: स्वबलनष्टिमवेक्ष्य रुष्ट आरुह्य यानकमथाभिससार रामम् । स्व:स्यन्दने द्युमति मातलिनोपनीते विभ्राजमानमहनन्निशितै: क्षुरप्रै: ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

rakṣaḥ-patiḥ sva-bala-naṣṭim avekṣya ruṣṭa āruhya yānakam athābhisasāra rāmam svaḥ-syandane dyumati mātalinopanīte vibhrājamānam ahanan niśitaiḥ kṣurapraiḥ

Translation

Thereafter Rāvaṇa, lord of the rākṣasas, seeing his forces destroyed, blazed with anger. Mounting his flower-adorned aerial car, he rushed toward Lord Rāmacandra, who sat upon the radiant chariot brought by Mātali, Indra’s charioteer. Then Rāvaṇa struck at Rāma with razor-sharp arrows.

Synonyms

• रक्षः-पतिः: the lord of the Rakshasas (Ravana)
• रक्षः-पतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षः (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st) एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (रक्षसां पतिः)

• स्व-बल-नष्टिम्: the destruction of his own army
• स्व-बल-नष्टिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक) + नष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd) एकवचनम्; ‘स्वस्य बलस्य नष्टिः’ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• अवेक्ष्य: having seen
• अवेक्ष्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव√ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund) अव्यय; ‘दृष्ट्वा/अवलोक्य’

• रुष्टः: angered
• रुष्टः: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √रुष्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st) एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषणम्

• आरुह्य: having mounted
• आरुह्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ√रुह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund) अव्यय; ‘आरूढ्वा’

• यानकम्: vehicle, chariot
• यानकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यानक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd) एकवचनम्

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/thereupon)

• अभिससार: rushed toward
• अभिससार: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि√सृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect) प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd) एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• रामम्: Rama
• रामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd) एकवचनम्

• स्वः-स्यन्दने: in the heavenly chariot
• स्वः-स्यन्दने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वः (प्रातिपदिक) + स्यन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी (7th/Locative) एकवचनम्; ‘स्वर्गस्य स्यन्दनः’ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• द्युमति: splendid, radiant
• द्युमति: Adhikarana-anvaya (अधिकरण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्युमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी (7th) एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (स्यन्दने)

• मातलिना: by Matali
• मातलिना: Kartr-karana (कर्ता/Agent in passive sense; or करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया (3rd) एकवचनम्

• उपनीते: brought (to him)
• उपनीते: Adhikarana-anvaya (अधिकरण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपनीत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, उप√नी)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी (7th) एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; विशेषणम् (स्यन्दने)

• विभ्राजमानम्: shining
• विभ्राजमानम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि√भ्राज् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्तः; पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd) एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (रामम्)

• अहनन्: he struck
• अहनन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हन् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past) प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd) एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• निशितैः: sharp
• निशितैः: Karana-anvaya (करण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निशित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √शि/शै ‘to sharpen’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया (3rd) बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (क्षुरप्रैः)

• क्षुरप्रैः: with razor-edged arrows
• क्षुरप्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षुरप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया (3rd) बहुवचनम्; ‘क्षुर-प्र’ = razor-edged arrows (नाम)

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Śrī Rāma
• Mātali

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Rama’s battle with Ravana?

This verse describes Ravana’s rage after his forces are destroyed and shows Rama, aided by the celestial chariot brought by Matali, striking Ravana with sharp arrows—highlighting divine justice in Rama-lila.

Who is Mātali in the Srimad Bhagavatam and why does he appear in Rama-katha?

Mātali is the charioteer of Indra. Here he brings a radiant celestial chariot for Rama, indicating the devas’ support for Rama’s dharmic mission against Ravana.

What is the practical lesson from Ravana becoming angry after losing his army?

The verse shows how attachment to power and pride leads to destructive anger, whereas alignment with dharma and divine purpose brings protection and victory—encouraging self-control and righteous action.