Shloka 6.94.32

रावणस्य सभाप्रवेशः — रामस्य शरवृष्ट्या राक्षससेनाविनाशः (Ravana Enters Council; Rama’s Arrow-Storm Destroys the Rakshasa Host)

Devanagari script

अनीकंदशसाहस्रंरथानांवातरम्हसाम् ।अष्टादशसहस्राणिकुञ्जराणांतरस्विनाम् ।।6.94.31।।चतुर्दशसहस्राणिसारोहाणां च वाजिनाम् ।पूर्णेशतसहस्रेद्वेराक्षसानांपदातिनाम् ।।6.94.32।।दिवसस्याष्टभागेनशरैरग्निशिखोपमैः ।हतात्यान्येकेनरामेणरक्षसांकामरूपिणाम् ।।6.94.33।।

Transliteration

hatair gaja-padāty-aśvais tad babhūva raṇājiram |

akrīḍa-bhūmiḥ kruddhasya rudrasyeva mahātmanaḥ ||

Translation

With elephants, infantry, and horses lying slain, that battlefield looked like the play-ground of the great Rudra when wrathful.

Context

In the eighth part of the day, in the battlefield, an army of Rakshasas who were capable of changing their forms at will, constituting a myriad of chariots with wind speed, eighteen thousand fleetfooted elephants, fourteen thousand horses with riders, two lakh Rakshasas fighting on foot exterminated by Rama singlehanded with his arrows that resembled tongues of fire.

Characters & Entities

• Rudra (Śiva)
• Battlefield

FAQs

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

The verse warns of war’s terrible cost; even when fought for dharma, battle is grave and destructive, and thus must be entered only for righteous necessity.

What is the narrative situation?

After the slaughter, the narrator describes the battlefield’s dreadful appearance through a powerful Śaiva simile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Not a single virtue, but the awe-inspiring magnitude of the event—suggesting the seriousness with which dharmic conflict is portrayed.