Shloka 6.41.13

युद्धलक्षण-निमित्तदर्शनं तथा लङ्काद्वारव्यूहः (War Omens and the Encirclement of Lanka’s Gates)

Devanagari script

वाताश्चहिपरुषांवान्तिकम्पतेचवसुन्धरा ।पर्वताग्राणिवेपन्तेपतन्तिधरणीधराः ।।6.41.13।।

Transliteration

meghāḥ kravāda-saṅkāśāḥ paruṣāḥ paruṣa-svanāḥ |

krūrāḥ krūraṃ pravarṣanti miśraṃ śoṇita-bindubhiḥ ||6.41.14||

Translation

The clouds, like flesh-eating birds—harsh and harsh-sounding—pour down a dreadful rain, mingled with drops of blood.

Context

"The winds are blowing severely, the earth is quaking in, the mountain peaks are shaking, and the elephants bearing the earth (in the four corners) are falling."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• meghāḥ (clouds)
• śoṇita (blood)

FAQs

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

The verse underscores the moral gravity of war: omens symbolically mirror bloodshed, reminding leaders to pursue only righteous conflict and minimize harm.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma continues listing inauspicious portents—nature itself appears to foretell slaughter.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral awareness—Rāma does not ignore signs that highlight the suffering war brings.