Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 44, Shloka 25

चतुश्चत्वारिंशः सर्गः (Sarga 44): निशायुद्धम्, धूलिरुधिरप्रवाहः, इन्द्रजितो मायायुद्धम्

Devanagari script

राक्षसानांचनिनदैर्हरीणांचापिनिस्स्वनैः ।।।।साबभूवनिशाघोराभूयोघोरतरातदा ।

Transliteration

rākṣasānāṃ ca ninadair harīṇāṃ cāpi nissvanaiḥ | sā babhūva niśā ghorā bhūyo ghoratarā tadā ||

Translation

With the clamour of the Rākṣasas and the loud cries of the Vānaras, that fearsome night became more fearsome still.

Word by Word

• गोलाङ्गूलाः: long-tailed
• गोलाङ्गूलाः: विशेषण (of implied subject: वानराः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गो + लाङ्गूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि—'गो-सदृशं लाङ्गूलं येषां ते' (having cow-like/large tails)

• महाकायाः: huge-bodied
• महाकायाः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + काय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-बहुवचन; कर्मधारय—'महान् कायः येषां ते'

• तमसा: with darkness; dark (in hue)
• तमसा: करण/हेतु (means/cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-एकवचन (Instrumental singular)

• तुल्यवर्चसः: of great/strong energy
• तुल्यवर्चसः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुल्य + वर्चस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि—'तुल्यं वर्चः येषां ते' (of equal/strong radiance/energy)

• सम्परिष्वज्य: having seized/embraced
• सम्परिष्वज्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + परि + स्वज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/absolutive), अव्यय-रूप — 'having embraced/held fast'

• बाहुभ्याम्: with (their) two arms
• बाहुभ्याम्: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-द्विवचन (Instrumental dual)

• भक्षयन्: devouring
• भक्षयन्: क्रिया (ongoing action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भक्ष् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (Present active participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन/बहुवचन-प्रयोगानुसार (here agreeing with plural subject: प्रथमा-बहुवचन sense)

• रजनीचरान्: night-wanderers (Rakshasas)
• रजनीचरान्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजनी + चर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष—'रजन्यां चरन्ति'

Context

Those fierce Rakshasas who stood in front of Rama were destroyed like fireflies fallen in fire.

Characters & Entities

• Rākṣasa
• Vānara

FAQs

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

The verse underscores the moral cost of conflict: even when a cause is righteous, war intensifies fear and suffering—prompting the dhārmic imperative to restore peace as soon as justice allows.

What is the narrative situation?

Both armies raise tremendous battle-noise; the atmosphere of the night grows increasingly terrifying.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Endurance (titikṣā) in collective struggle—both sides persist amid escalating dread, setting the stage for the dhārmic hero’s steady leadership.