Shloka 29

रावणस्य सभाप्रवेशः — रामस्य शरवृष्ट्या राक्षससेनाविनाशः

Ravana Enters Council; Rama’s Arrow-Storm Destroys the Rakshasa Host

Devanagari script

शरीरनाभिसत्त्वार्चिश्शरारंनेमिकार्मुकम् ।ज्याघोषतलनिर्घोषंतेजोबुधदिगुणप्रभम् ।।।।दिव्यास्त्रगुणपर्यन्तंनिघ्नन्तंयुधिराक्षसान् ।ददृशूरामचक्रंतत्कालचक्रमिवप्रजाः ।।।।

Transliteration

śarīra-nābhi-sattvārciḥ-śarāraṃ nemi-kārmukam |

jyā-ghoṣa-tala-nirghoṣaṃ tejo-buddhi-guṇa-prabham ||

divyāstra-guṇa-paryantaṃ nighnantaṃ yudhi rākṣasān |

dadṛśū rāma-cakraṃ tat kāla-cakram iva prajāḥ ||

Translation

Le peuple vit cette « Roue de Rāma » fauchant les rākṣasas au combat : son corps en était le moyeu, sa force intime la flamme, les flèches les rayons, l’arc la jante, le fracas de la corde son rugissement ; et son éclat, son intelligence et ses vertus, l’élan qui portait ses armes divines — telle la Roue même du Temps.

Word by Word

• śarīra-nābhi: having the body as its hub
• śarīra-nābhi: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śarīra (प्रातिपदिक) + nābhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (śarīrasya nābhiḥ = body as the navel/centre)

• sattva-arciḥ: whose radiance is valor
• sattva-arciḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sattva (प्रातिपदिक) + arciṣ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (sattvasya arciḥ = glow of strength/valor)

• śarāram: with arrows as spokes
• śarāram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (śarāra = spoke-like array of arrows)

• nemi-kārmukam: with the bow as its rim
• nemi-kārmukam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nemi (प्रातिपदिक) + kārmuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (nemiḥ iva kārmukam / nemi-rūpaṃ kārmukam = bow as the rim)

• jyā-ghoṣa: bowstring-twang
• jyā-ghoṣa: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jyā (प्रातिपदिक) + ghoṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-समासपद; (jyāyāḥ ghoṣaḥ = twang of the bowstring)

• tala-nirghoṣam: with a resounding roar
• tala-nirghoṣam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tala (प्रातिपदिक) + nirghoṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (talasya nirghoṣaḥ = loud sound like a drum/beat)

• tejaḥ-buddhi-guṇa-prabham: radiant with power, intellect, and virtues
• tejaḥ-buddhi-guṇa-prabham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tejas (प्रातिपदिक) + buddhi (प्रातिपदिक) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + prabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (tejasā buddhyā guṇaiś ca prabham = radiant with power, intelligence, virtues)

• divya-astra-guṇa-paryantam: endowed with divine-missile power
• divya-astra-guṇa-paryantam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: divya (प्रातिपदिक) + astra (प्रातिपदिक) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + paryanta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (divyānām astrāṇāṃ guṇāḥ paryantāḥ yasya = reaching to the qualities/power of divine missiles)

• nighnantam: killing, striking down
• nighnantam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/participle qualifying object)
• Type: Verb
• Root: han (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; √han (to strike/kill)

• yudhi: in battle
• yudhi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yudh (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (locative-usage indeclinable): ‘in battle’ (युद्धे)

• rākṣasān: the Rakshasas
• rākṣasān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• dadṛśuḥ: they saw
• dadṛśuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्; √dṛś (to see)

• rāma-cakram: Rama's wheel (whirling force)
• rāma-cakram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक) + cakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (rāmasya cakram = Rama's wheel)

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• kāla-cakram: the wheel of Time
• kāla-cakram: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक) + cakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (kālasya cakram = wheel of Time)

• iva: like, as
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (comparative particle)

• prajāḥ: the people
• prajāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Rākṣasas
• Kāla (Time)
• Divine weapons (divyāstras)
• Bow
• Arrows

FAQs

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

Dharma is portrayed as cosmic order enacted through a righteous agent: Rāma’s battle becomes a moral-cosmic instrument that removes adharma, likened to Time itself which none can resist.

What is the narrative situation?

Observers on the battlefield poetically visualize Rāma’s motion and weaponry as a single ‘wheel’ that relentlessly destroys the Rākṣasa forces.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Tejas (majestic power) guided by buddhi (discernment) and guṇas (virtues)—strength under moral governance.