Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 108, Shloka 12

रावणरथवैभव–निमित्तदर्शन–राममातलिसंवादः

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

Devanagari script

अविक्लबमसम्भ्रान्तमव्यग्रहृदयेक्षणम् ।रमशिसञ्चारनियंप्रचोदयरथंद्रुतम् ।।।।

Transliteration

aviklabam asambhrāntam avyagrahṛdayekṣaṇam |

raśmisañcāraniyaṃ pracodaya rathaṃ drutam ||6.108.12||

Translation

戦車を速やかに駆れ――ひるまず、乱れず、心も眼差しも揺るがせず、手綱の運びを確かに制して。

Word by Word

• aviklabam: unconfused/undaunted
• aviklabam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-viklaba (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adjective; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying 'ratham'

• asambhrāntam: unagitated
• asambhrāntam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-sambhrānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adjective; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying 'ratham'

• avyagra-hṛdaya-īkṣaṇam: with steady heart and gaze
• avyagra-hṛdaya-īkṣaṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-vyagra (प्रातिपदिक) + hṛdaya (प्रातिपदिक) + īkṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); bahuvrīhi-like sense but form used adjectivally for 'ratham'/'sārathi' context: 'having un-distracted heart and gaze'

• raśmi-sañcāra-niyatam: with reins’ movement controlled
• raśmi-sañcāra-niyatam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: raśmi (प्रातिपदिक) + sañcāra (प्रातिपदिक) + niyata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying 'ratham': 'whose rein-movement is controlled'

• pracodaya: drive/urge on
• pracodaya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√cud (चुद् धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (imperative), Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd person), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• ratham: the chariot
• ratham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• drutam: swiftly
• drutam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: druta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable adverb) used as kriyā-viśeṣaṇa: 'swiftly'

Context

"Drive the chariot swiftly without confusion, without any agitation, with steady heart and vision, controlling the movement of reins and determination.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Mātali
• Chariot

FAQs

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

Dharma in action is steadiness: even in violence forced by circumstances, one must remain composed, clear-minded, and self-governed.

What is the narrative situation?

On the battlefield, Rāma gives precise driving instructions to Mātali to position the chariot effectively against Rāvaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Śama/dama (inner calm and control): steadiness of heart and senses under pressure.