Shloka 8

युद्धकाण्डे एकोनषष्टितमः सर्गः

Rāvaṇa’s Assault on Nīla and Lakṣmaṇa; Hanumān Bears Rāma

Devanagari script

सशङ्खभेरीपणवप्रणादैरास्फोटितक्षेळ्वितसिंहनादैः ।पुण्यैस्स्तवैश्चाप्यभिपूज्यमानस्तदाययौराक्षसराजमुख्य:।। 6.59.8।।

Transliteration

saśaṅkhabherīpaṇavapraṇādair āsphoṭitakṣeḷvitasinhanādaiḥ | puṇyaiḥ stavaiś cāpy abhipūjyamānas tadā yayau rākṣasarājamukhyaḥ ||6.59.8||

Translation

Entonces avanzó el principal rey de los Rākṣasas, entre el clamor de caracolas, el retumbar de tambores, palmadas y gritos, y rugidos como de león, mientras era alabado y honrado con himnos auspiciosos.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• śaṅkha-bherī-paṇava-praṇādaiḥ: with conch-and-drum sounds
• śaṅkha-bherī-paṇava-praṇādaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṅkha + bherī + paṇava + praṇāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास: ‘with the sounds of conches, drums, and kettledrums’

• āsphoṭita-kṣeḷvita-siṃha-nādaiḥ: with clappings, shouts, and lion-roars
• āsphoṭita-kṣeḷvita-siṃha-nādaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ā-sphoṭita + kṣeḷvita + siṃha-nāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व: ‘with clappings, shouts, and lion-roars’; āsphoṭita/kṣeḷvita are kta-derivatives used as nouns

• puṇyaiḥ: with auspicious
• puṇyaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण of stavaiḥ

• stavaiḥ: hymns/praises
• stavaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: stava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle): ‘also/even’

• abhipūjyamānaḥ: being honored
• abhipūjyamānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi-pūj (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि कृदन्त (present passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘being honored’

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (time adverb): ‘then’

• yayau: went forth
• yayau: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• rākṣasa-rāja-mukhyaḥ: the foremost rākṣasa king
• rākṣasa-rāja-mukhyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa + rāja + mukhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘foremost among rākṣasa kings’

Context

As the foremost king of the Rakshasas went forth, a blast of sounds of conchs, beat of drums and clapping of arms and the roaring sounds followed by the chanting of auspicious verses sung by the Rakshasas eulogizing and honouring the king highly.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Rākṣasas
• conches (śaṅkha)
• drums (bherī, paṇava)

FAQs

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

The verse contrasts outer honor with inner righteousness: public acclaim and ceremonial grandeur are not proof of dharma; ethical legitimacy depends on conduct and truth.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa advances for battle amid loud martial instruments and celebratory praise from his followers.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Not a virtue but a theme: charisma and royal spectacle—showing how power can be socially celebrated even when aligned against dharma.