Shloka 6.104.11

रावणशूलप्रक्षेपः — Ravana Hurls the Trident; Rama Counters with Indra’s Javelin

Devanagari script

एतस्मिन्नन्तरेक्रोधाद्राघवस्य स रावणः ।प्रहर्तुकामोदुष्टात्मास्पृशन् प्रहरणंमहत् ।।6.104.9।।वज्रसारंमहानादंसर्वशत्रुनिबर्हणम् ।शैलशृङ्गनिभैःकूटैश्चित्तदृष्टिभयावहम् ।।6.104.10।।सधूममिवतीक्ष्णाग्रंयुगान्ताग्निचमोपमम् ।अतिरौद्रमनासाद्यंकालेनापिदुरासदम् ।।6.104.11।।त्रासनंसर्वभूतानांदारणंभेदनंतथा ।प्रदीप्तमिवरोषेणशूलंजग्राहरावणः ।।6.104.12।।

Transliteration

sadhūmam iva tīkṣṇāgraṃ yugāntāgnicamopamam |

atiraudram anāsādyaṃ kālenāpi durāsadam ||6.104.11||

Translation

Its keen point seemed wreathed in smoke, like the fire at the end of an age—exceedingly dreadful, unapproachable, and hard to withstand, even like Death itself.

Context

In the meantime, the evil self Ravana who is called so, as he makes others cry, in intense anger making loud noise, stroking an unassailable weapon which was like the thunderbolt, capable of killing all enemies, a spike which closely resembled mountain peaks, dreadful even to think, like a mass of smoke, sharp and pointed, blazing like at the dissolution of the universe, very frightening, difficult to hand le, like the god of death, a terror for all beings, frightening, tearing, splitting, glowing like trident seized hold of to attack Rama.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Śūla (trident)
• Kāla (Time/Death)

FAQs

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

The verse warns that when violence is driven by rage, it becomes ‘deathlike’ and indiscriminate—dharma, by contrast, demands proportion, justice, and accountability in action.

What is the narrative situation?

The poet intensifies the depiction of Rāvaṇa’s weapon, comparing it to cosmic destruction and to Kāla, to convey the imminent danger to Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage under threat is foregrounded indirectly: the more terrifying the weapon is portrayed, the more meaningful steadfastness and righteous resolve become.