Shloka 20

रावणक्रोधः—रामस्य परुषवाक्यम्

Ravana’s Fury and Rama’s Harsh Admonition

Devanagari script

अद्यतेमच्छरैश्चिन्नंशिरोज्वलितकुण्डलम् ।क्रव्यादाव्यपकर्षन्तुविकीर्णंरणपांसुषु ।।।।

Transliteration

adya te maccharaiś chinnaṃ śiro jvalitakuṇḍalam |

kravyādā vyapakṛṣantu vikīrṇaṃ raṇapāṃsuṣu ||

Translation

今日、私の矢によって切り落とされ、耳飾りが輝く其方の首は、戦場の塵の中に転がり、肉を食らう獣たちによって引きずり去られるであろう。

Word by Word

• अद्य: today
• अद्य: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन, सर्वनाम

• मच्छरैः: by my arrows
• मच्छरैः: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad + śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: मम शराः

• छिन्नम्: severed
• छिन्नम्: Karma (कर्म/patient state)
• Type: Verb
• Root: chid (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण शिरः

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: Karma (कर्म; object/patient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ज्वलितकुण्डलम्: with shining earrings
• ज्वलितकुण्डलम्: Karma (कर्म; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jvalita + kuṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ज्वलिते कुण्डले यस्य तत् (having shining earrings); विशेषण शिरः

• क्रव्यादाः: flesh-eaters (carnivores)
• क्रव्यादाः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kravyāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• व्यपकर्षन्तु: let them drag away
• व्यपकर्षन्तु: Kriya (क्रिया/command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-apa-kṛṣ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• विकीर्णम्: scattered / strewn
• विकीर्णम्: Karma (कर्म; state)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-kṝ (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण शिरः

• रणपांसुषु: in the dust of battle
• रणपांसुषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raṇa + pāṃsu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: रणस्य पांसवः

Context

"Now, let your head severed by my shafts lying in dust in the battlefield with the shining earrings be dragged by the carnivorous animals."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

It underscores the inevitability of consequence: persistent adharma culminates in dishonor and destruction; dharma’s protection may require severe action against the unrepentant aggressor.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma issues a grim battlefield pronouncement of Rāvaṇa’s imminent defeat and death.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s uncompromising justice in war—firmness in executing rightful punishment.