Shloka 8

रावणरथवैभव–निमित्तदर्शन–राममातलिसंवादः

Ravana’s Chariot, Portents, and Rama–Matali Instructions

Devanagari script

शराधाराविमुञ्चन्तंधारासारमिवाम्बुदम् ।तंदृष्टवामेघसङ्काशमापतन्तंरथंरिपोः ।।6.108.7।।गिरेर्वज्राभिमृष्टस्यदीर्यतस्सदृशस्वनम् ।विस्पारयन्वैवेगेनबालचन्द्रानतंधनुः ।।6.108.8।।उवाचसारथिंरामंसहस्राक्षस्यमातलिम् ।

Transliteration

girervajrābhimṛṣṭasya dīryataḥ sadṛśasvanam | vispārayan vai vegena bālacandrānataṃ dhanuḥ || uvāca sārathiṃ rāmaḥ sahasrākṣasya mātalim ||

Translation

Bandant d’un geste rapide son arc, courbé comme le jeune croissant de lune, Rāma fit retentir un fracas tel une montagne qui se fend sous le coup de la foudre; puis il s’adressa à Mātali, cocher d’Indra aux mille yeux.

Word by Word

• गिरेः: of a mountain
• गिरेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• वज्र-अभिमृष्टस्य: struck by a thunderbolt
• वज्र-अभिमृष्टस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वज्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अभि-मृष्ट (मृश्/मृष् धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (वज्रेण अभिमृष्टः)

• दीर्यतः: of (it) splitting
• दीर्यतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दॄ (धातु) (दीर्यते) + शतृ (present participle, Ātmanepada)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन; शतृ/शानच्-भावे (while splitting)

• सदृश-स्वनम्: having a similar sound
• सदृश-स्वनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदृश (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सदृशः स्वनः यस्य/यत्) विशेषण

• विस्फारयन्: stretching (drawing)
• विस्फारयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + स्फुर्/स्फार् (धातु) + शतृ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present participle) कर्तरि—"stretching"

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• वेगेन: with speed
• वेगेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; करण (instrumental: with speed)

• बालचन्द्र-आनतम्: curved like a young moon
• बालचन्द्र-आनतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक) + चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आनत (नम् धातु, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (बालचन्द्रेण/बालचन्द्रवत् आनतम् = bent like a young moon)

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म (object of stretching)

Context

The chariot bells fixed to the huge flag post were making sounds, yoked to dark horses, and was shining with splendor with rage. It was glowing like a bright sun in the sky displaying its splendor, like the aerial chariot. It looked like a cloud holding water, releasing water of arrows from Rakshasa king's bow. The king of humans saw this chariot.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Mātali
• Indra (Sahasrākṣa)

FAQs

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

Power is disciplined by purpose: Rāma’s might is shown as controlled readiness, used in service of restoring dharma rather than mere rage.

What is the narrative situation?

Under an intense arrow-shower, Rāma draws his bow and turns to consult Mātali in the battle-moment.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Composed valor—strength expressed with control and strategic communication.