Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 108, Shloka 10

रावणरथवैभव–निमित्तदर्शन–राममातलिसंवादः

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

Devanagari script

मातलेपश्यसम्रद्धमापतन्तंरथंरिपोः ।।6.108.9।।यथापसव्यंपततावेगेनमहतापुनः ।समरेहन्तुमात्मानंतथानेनकृतामतिः ।।6.108.10।।

Transliteration

mātale paśya samṛddham āpatantaṃ rathaṃ ripoh |

yathāpasavyaṃ patatā vegena mahatā punaḥ |

samare hantum ātmānaṃ tathānena kṛtāmatiḥ ||6.108.10||

Translation

Wahai Mātali, lihatlah kereta musuh yang megah itu melesat mendekat; berputar ke arah yang keliru, ia menyerbu lagi dengan kecepatan dahsyat. Tampaknya tekadnya demikian, sehingga di medan laga ia seakan berkeras menuju kebinasaan dirinya sendiri.

Word by Word

• yathā: as/just as
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable), upamā/vidhi-arthaka: 'as, in the manner that'

• apasavyam: in reverse/leftward
• apasavyam: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: apasavya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable adverb), gati/diśā-vācaka: 'to the left/reverse-wise'

• patatā: by falling/charging
• patatā: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pat (धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: Kridanta present active participle (vartamāna-kṛdanta), śatṛ; Instrumental singular (तृतीया एकवचन), masculine/neuter agreement by context; 'by/with (one) falling/charging'

• vegena: with speed
• vegena: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vega (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• mahatā: great
• mahatā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adjective; Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying 'vegena'

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable adverb)

• samare: in battle
• samare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• hantum: to kill
• hantum: Prayojana (प्रयोजनम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: han (धातु) + tumun (तुमुन्)
• Form: Kridanta infinitive (tumunanta), 'to kill'

• ātmānam: himself
• ātmānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• tathā: thus/so
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable), 'thus/in that way'

• anena: by him/with this
• anena: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (sarvanāma); Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• kṛtā: made/formed
• kṛtā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kridanta past passive participle (kta); Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agreeing with 'matiḥ'

• matiḥ: intention/mind
• matiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

"Matali! the enemy's chariot is darting forward hurriedly. See him coming in the reverse direction with great speed once again. It strikes my mind that he is surely causing his fall."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Mātali
• Rāvaṇa (as 'enemy')

FAQs

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

Apramāda (non-negligence) in righteous action: even when fighting for Dharma, one must observe carefully, interpret signs, and act with disciplined awareness rather than impulse.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma observes Rāvaṇa’s aggressive maneuvering and warns Mātali, reading the enemy’s reckless charge as self-destructive.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s strategic clarity: he combines courage with measured judgment, a hallmark of dharmic leadership.