Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 103, Shloka 2
ऐन्द्ररथप्रदानम्
Indra’s Chariot Offered to Rāma; The Duel Intensifies
रावणायशरानघोरान्विससर्जचमूमुखे ।अधान्यंरथमास्थायरावणोराक्षसाधिपः ।।।।अभ्यधावतकाकुत्स्थंस्वर्भानुरिवभास्करम् ।
rāvaṇāya śarān ghorān visasarja ca mūrdhani | athānyaṁ ratham āsthāya rāvaṇo rākṣasādhipaḥ | abhyadhāvat kākutsthaṁ svarbhānur iva bhāskaram ||
Rāma loosed dreadful arrows upon the forefront of Rāvaṇa’s host. Then Rāvaṇa, lord of the rākṣasas, mounting another chariot, rushed toward Kakutstha (Rāma) like Svarbhānu (Rāhu) advancing upon the Sun.
Then a wonderful, severe thrilling fight took place between Sri Rama and Ravana.
FAQs
It highlights kṣatriya-dharma: facing aggression directly and meeting a foe in open battle with resolve, without abandoning one’s duty under pressure.
The climactic duel escalates: Rama strikes at Ravana’s front lines, and Ravana counters by charging toward Rama from a fresh chariot.
Rama’s steadfast courage and unwavering commitment to righteous combat; Ravana’s aggressive, eclipse-like menace is contrasted through the Rahu–Sun simile.