Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 108, Shloka 20

रावणरथवैभव–निमित्तदर्शन–राममातलिसंवादः

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

Devanagari script

वर्षरुधिरंदेवोरावणस्यरधोपरि ।।।।वातामण्डलिनस्त्रीव्राह्यपसव्यंप्रचक्रमुः ।

Transliteration

vavarṣa rudhiraṃ devo rāvaṇasya rathopari | vātā maṇḍalinas tīvra hy apasavyaṃ pracakramuḥ ||

Translation

天はラーヴァナの戦車の上に血の雨を降らせ、激しい風は渦を巻いて巡り、左から右へと不吉に吹きすさんだ。

Word by Word

• ववर्ष: rained down
• ववर्ष: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपदम्

• रुधिरम्: blood
• रुधिरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुधिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• देवः: the god (heaven)
• देवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• रावणस्य: of Ravana
• रावणस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• रथ-उपरि: upon the chariot
• रथ-उपरि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपरि (अव्यय) + रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपरि = अव्यय (indeclinable), स्थानवाचक (locative adverb); रथ (पुं), षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थे/सप्तम्यर्थे प्रयोगः (sense: on the chariot)

• वात-मण्डलिनः: winds moving in circles
• वात-मण्डलिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वात (प्रातिपदिक) + मण्डलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (वातस्य मण्डलिनः = wind-circling), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तीव्राः: violent
• तीव्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीव्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying वात-मण्डलिनः)

• अपसव्यम्: counterclockwise; to the left
• अपसव्यम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपसव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण (adverbial use), दिशावाचकः (leftward/anticlockwise)

• प्रचक्रमुः: whirled/blew around
• प्रचक्रमुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपदम्; उपसर्गः प्र-

Context

Lanka seemed glowing in red colour like at dusk, and as though the earth was burning, shrouded with Japa flowers, even though it was daytime.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• chariot

FAQs

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

The epic links adharma with inauspicious portents: when wrongdoing hardens, nature and the cosmos signal imbalance and approaching consequence.

What is the narrative situation?

As the duel approaches, ominous signs appear specifically over Rāvaṇa’s chariot.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral discernment: recognizing warnings and turning away from wrongdoing—something Rāvaṇa fails to do.