Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 23
सुवेलारोहणं रावण-सुग्रीव-नियुद्धम्
Ascent of Suvela and the Ravana–Sugriva Duel
मण्डलानिविचित्राणिस्थानानिविविधानिच ।मूत्रकाणिचित्राणिगतप्रत्यागतानिच ।।।।तिरच्शीनगतान्येवतथावक्रगतानिच ।परिमोक्षंप्रहाराणांवर्जनंपरिधावनम् ।।।।अभिद्रवणमाप्लावमावस्थानंसविग्रहम् ।परावृत्तमपावृत्तमपद्रुतमवप्लुतम् ।।।।उपन्यस्तपमन्यस्तंयुद्धमार्गविशारदौ ।तौसञ्चेचेरतुरन्योन्यंवानरेन्द्रश्चरावणः ।।।।
maṇḍalāni vicitrāṇi sthānāni vividhāni ca |
mūtrakāṇi citrāṇi gatapratyāgatāni ca ||
tiraścīnagātāny eva tathā vakragatāni ca |
parimokṣaṃ prahārāṇāṃ varjanaṃ paridhāvanam ||
abhidravaṇam āplāvam āvasthānaṃ savigraham |
parāvṛttam apāvṛttam apadrutam avaplutam ||
upanyastam apavyastaṃ yuddhamārgaviśāradau |
tau sañceccheratur anyonyaṃ vānarendraś ca rāvaṇaḥ ||
Versés dans les voies du combat, Rāvaṇa et le seigneur des Vānaras déployèrent des cercles merveilleux et des postures variées : mouvements sinueux, avances et retraites, pas de côté et détours; relâchement et évitement des coups; courses et frappes; charges et bonds; immobilité ferme et maîtrisée; volte-face et retour; repli et écart d’un saut; prises posées puis défaites. Ainsi se mesuraient-ils, manifestant leur science de la guerre.
Both Vanara king and Ravana being learned in war craft, went around in circles like ox's urine, stood in different wonderful postures, moved forward and backward horizontally and obliquely to evade movements, hitting, and delivering each other, standing steadily motionless, striking, jumping, assaulting each other coming forward and going away, going backwards jumping from behind, holding hands and folding to resist exhibiting their skill in combat.
FAQs
Power is shown as structured and rule-governed skill: dharma favors trained, accountable use of force (yuddha-mārga), not chaotic violence—implying that even battle has disciplines and limits.
The text pauses to catalogue the technical footwork, feints, holds, and maneuvers displayed by Sugrīva and Rāvaṇa during their duel.
Martial mastery and self-control—skillful movement, timing, and restraint within combat technique.