Shloka 23

शक्तिप्रहारः

Ravana’s Shakti Javelin and Lakshmana’s Wounding

Devanagari script

सावेगिताबलवतारावणेनदुरात्मना ।जज्वालसुमहातेजादीप्ताशनिसमप्रभा ।।।।

Transliteration

sā vegitā balavatā rāvaṇena durātmanā |

jajvāla sumahātejā dīptāśanisamaprabhā ||

Translation

力は強くとも邪心のラーヴァナに勢いよく振り回されて放たれたその槍は、疾風のごとき速さを帯び、甚大な光威を燃え上がらせ、炎の雷霆のように輝いた。

Word by Word

• सा: that (javelin)
• सा: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन; शक्तिः इत्यस्य निर्देश

• वेगिता: speed-driven
• वेगिता: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेगित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-विशेषण)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण सा (शक्तिः) इति; अर्थः 'impelled/quickened'

• बलवता: by the mighty
• बलवता: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन; विशेषण रावणेन इति

• रावणेन: by Ravana
• रावणेन: करण/कर्ता (Agent in passive sense/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• दुरात्मना: evil-minded
• दुरात्मना: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुरात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक: दुर् + आत्मन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषण रावणेन इति

• जज्वाल: blazed
• जज्वाल: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्वल् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सुमहातेजाः: of very great radiance
• सुमहातेजाः: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुमहातेजस् (प्रातिपदिक: सु + महा + तेजस्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण सा (शक्तिः) इति

• दीप्ताशनिसमप्रभा: splendid like a blazing thunderbolt
• दीप्ताशनिसमप्रभा: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीप्ताशनिसमप्रभ (प्रातिपदिक: दीप्त + अशनि + सम + प्रभ)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण सा (शक्तिः) इति; अर्थः 'having splendor equal to a blazing thunderbolt'

Context

That javelin was endowed with speed, resembling thunderbolt in splendour, whirled round by the mighty and evil-minded Ravana, shone.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• śakti (spear/javelin)
• aśani (thunderbolt)

FAQs

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

The epic warns that strength without dharma becomes dangerous brilliance—impressive, yet morally misdirected.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa readies and brandishes a fast, blazing spear, escalating the threat.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse foregrounds martial might; ethically, it serves as a contrast to righteous use of power.