Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 103, Shloka 2
ऐन्द्ररथप्रदानम्
Indra’s Chariot Offered to Rāma; The Duel Intensifies
रावणायशरानघोरान्विससर्जचमूमुखे ।अधान्यंरथमास्थायरावणोराक्षसाधिपः ।।।।अभ्यधावतकाकुत्स्थंस्वर्भानुरिवभास्करम् ।
rāvaṇāya śarān ghorān visasarja ca mūrdhani | athānyaṁ ratham āsthāya rāvaṇo rākṣasādhipaḥ | abhyadhāvat kākutsthaṁ svarbhānur iva bhāskaram ||
Rāma décocha d’effroyables flèches sur les troupes de Rāvaṇa, les frappant à la tête. Alors Rāvaṇa, souverain des rākṣasas, monta sur un autre char et fondit sur Kakutstha tel Svarbhānu (Rāhu) s’élançant contre le Soleil.
Then a wonderful, severe thrilling fight took place between Sri Rama and Ravana.
FAQs
It highlights kṣatriya-dharma: facing aggression directly and meeting a foe in open battle with resolve, without abandoning one’s duty under pressure.
The climactic duel escalates: Rama strikes at Ravana’s front lines, and Ravana counters by charging toward Rama from a fresh chariot.
Rama’s steadfast courage and unwavering commitment to righteous combat; Ravana’s aggressive, eclipse-like menace is contrasted through the Rahu–Sun simile.