Shloka 22

रावणशूलप्रक्षेपः

Ravana Hurls the Trident; Rama Counters with Indra’s Javelin

Devanagari script

तच्छूलंराघवोदृष्टवाज्वलन्तंघोरदर्शनम् ।ससर्जविशिखान्रामश्चापमायम्यवीर्यवान् ।।।।

Transliteration

tac-chūlaṃ rāghavo dṛṣṭvā jvalantaṃ ghora-darśanam | sasarja viśikhān rāmaś cāpam āyamya vīryavān ||

Translation

燃えさかり、見るも恐ろしい三叉戟を見て、勇猛なるラーマは弓を引き絞り、矢の雨を放ってそれに向けた。

Word by Word

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; modifies śūlam

• śūlam: trident
• śūlam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Accusative, Singular

• rāghavaḥ: Raghava (Rama)
• rāghavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), 'having seen'

• jvalantam: blazing
• jvalantam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √jval (धातु) + śatṛ (कृदन्त)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Napumsaka, Accusative, Singular; qualifies śūlam

• ghora-darśanam: terrible-looking
• ghora-darśanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक) + darśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Accusative, Singular; 'terrible to behold'

• sasarja: released / shot forth
• sasarja: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sṛj (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person, Singular; parasmaipada

• viśikhān: arrows
• viśikhān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśikha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; apposition to rāghavaḥ

• cāpam: bow
• cāpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Accusative, Singular

• āyamya: having drawn (the bow)
• āyamya: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√yam (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), 'having drawn/strained'

• vīryavān: valiant
• vīryavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīrya-vat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Context

Valiant Raghava, seeing the glowing trident that was horrible to look at, loosed a number of arrows at it.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Rāghava)
• śūla (trident)
• cāpa (bow)

FAQs

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

Kṣātra-dharma is shown as disciplined response: Rāma does not panic or boast; he meets aggression with skilled, proportionate action aimed at protection and rightful victory.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma sees the incoming trident and counters immediately by drawing his bow and firing many arrows to stop it.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vīrya (heroic strength) joined to composure—courage expressed through control, technique, and readiness.