Shloka 6.96.21

युद्धाय रावणस्य निर्याणं तथा उत्पातदर्शनम् (Ravana’s Mobilization for War and the ظهور of Fatal Portents)

Devanagari script

कल्प्यतांमेरथंशीघ्रंक्षिप्रमानीयतांधनुः ।अनुप्रयान्तुमांयुद्धेयेऽत्रशिष्टानिशाचराः ।।6.96.21।।

Transliteration

kalpyatāṁ me rathaṁ śīghraṁ kṣipram ānīyatāṁ dhanuḥ |

anuprayāntu māṁ yuddhe ye ’tra śiṣṭā niśācarāḥ ||6.96.21||

Translation

“Make my chariot ready at once; bring my bow quickly. And let the Night-ranging Rākṣasas who remain here follow me into battle.”

Context

"Let my chariot and bow be ready and brought here. Let the night rangers who survived follow me."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Ratha (chariot)
• Dhanuḥ (bow)
• Niśācara (Rākṣasas)

FAQs

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

Leadership carries responsibility: calling followers to war must be guided by righteous purpose (Dharma). The epic context critiques mobilization driven by ego and adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa issues immediate military orders: prepare his chariot and bow and have the remaining Rākṣasas accompany him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Command and decisiveness are shown, but in the Ramayana’s moral arc these qualities must be subordinated to Satya and Dharma to be virtuous.