Shloka 35

रामरावणयोर्युद्धवैषम्यं तथा रावणशिरश्छेदनम्

Rama–Ravana Duel Intensifies; Ravana’s Heads Severed and Reappear

Devanagari script

रावणोऽपिततःक्रुद्धोरथस्थोराक्षसेश्वरः ।गदामुसलवर्षेणरामंप्रत्यर्दयद्रणे ।।।।

Transliteration

rāvaṇo 'pi tataḥ kruddho rathastho rākṣaseśvaraḥ |

gadāmusalavarṣeṇa rāmaṃ pratyardayad raṇe ||

Translation

Alors Rāvaṇa, lui aussi, courroucé, le seigneur des rākṣasas, debout sur son char, accabla Rāma dans la bataille d’une tempête de massues et de gourdins.

Word by Word

• रावणः: Ravana
• रावणः: कर्ता (Karta/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध/वाक्यालङ्कार (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थ (also/even)

• ततः: then
• ततः: अधिकरण (Adverbial/Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय; तद्-प्रातिपदिकात्)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), अपादान/काल-क्रम (then/thereafter)

• क्रुद्धः: angry
• क्रुद्धः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of agent)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रुध् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying rāvaṇaḥ)

• रथस्थः: standing in the chariot
• रथस्थः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of agent)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (रथे स्थितः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• राक्षसेश्वरः: lord of the Rakshasas
• राक्षसेश्वरः: कर्ता (Appositional to agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (राक्षसानाम् ईश्वरः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; रावणस्य उपाधि

• गदा: mace
• गदा: करण-निर्देश (Instrument-specifier within compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासे पूर्वपदम्

• मुसल: club
• मुसल: करण-निर्देश (Instrument-specifier within compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुसल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासे पूर्वपदम्

• वर्षेण: by a shower
• वर्षेण: करण (Karana/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; गदामुसलवर्षेण इति करणम्

• रामम्: Rama
• रामम्: कर्म (Karma/Patient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• प्रति: against
• प्रति: दिशा/सम्प्रदान-भाव (Directional)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग/अव्यय (preverb/adverb), अभिमुखता (towards/against)

• अर्दयत्: harassed/assailed
• अर्दयत्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्द् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; धात्वर्थः पीडने (to press/harass)

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: अधिकरण (Adhikarana/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

Context

Valiant enemy of Raghava also seated in the chariot, rained three hundred, sixties, hundreds, and thousands of arrows.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Rāma
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

The verse contrasts inner states in conflict: anger drives adharma-leaning aggression, while dharma requires restraint and clarity even amid violence.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa, furious, counterattacks Rāma intensely using heavy weapons (maces and clubs).

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast, the vice highlighted is krodha (anger) as a destabilizing force—an ethical warning central to Ramayana’s moral psychology.