Shloka 3

राघव-रावणयोः घोर-द्वैरथ-युद्धम्

The Fierce Chariot-Duel of Rama and Ravana

Devanagari script

सम्प्रयुद्धेतुतौदृष्टवाबलवन्नरराक्षसौ ।व्याक्षिप्तहदृयास्सर्वेपरंविस्मयमागताः ।।6.109.3।।

Transliteration

samprayuddhe tu tau dṛṣṭvā balavan-nara-rākṣasau | vyākṣipta-hṛdayāḥ sarve paraṁ vismayam āgatāḥ ||6.109.3||

Translation

強き人と羅刹とが接近戦で組み合うのを見て、見守る者は皆、心をかき乱され、極みの驚嘆に沈んだ。

Word by Word

• सम्प्रयुद्धे: in the fierce battle
• सम्प्रयुद्धे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्प्रयुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), सप्तमी (Loc.7), एकवचन (Sg.)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha/Discourse (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: contrast)

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc. 1/2), द्विवचन (Du.)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु) (कृदन्त; त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund)

• बलवत्: mighty
• बलवत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom.1), द्विवचन (Du.); विशेषण (of नरराक्षसौ)

• नरराक्षसौ: the man and the Rakshasa (the two warriors)
• नरराक्षसौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर-राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom.1), द्विवचन (Du.); द्वन्द्व-समास

• व्याक्षिप्तहृदयाः: with agitated hearts
• व्याक्षिप्तहृदयाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्याक्षिप्त-हृदय (प्रातिपदिक; वि+आ+√क्षिप् + क्त + हृदय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom.1), बहुवचन (Pl.); क्तान्त-पूर्वपद; विशेषण (of सर्वे)

• सर्वे: all (people)
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom.1), बहुवचन (Pl.)

• परम्: great/supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया (Acc.2), एकवचन (Sg.); विशेषण (of विस्मयम्)

• विस्मयम्: astonishment
• विस्मयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विस्मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया (Acc.2), एकवचन (Sg.)

• आगताः: came to/experienced
• आगताः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आगत (कृदन्त; आ+√गम् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP used as finite-like predicate), पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom.1), बहुवचन (Pl.)

Context

Then, when the mighty human and the Rakshasa were both engaged in the battle, distracted at heart, all experienced supreme wonderment.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

The verse highlights kṣātra-dharma: when a decisive duel occurs, even vast armies recognize the gravity of righteous combat and become inwardly stilled, acknowledging the moral weight of the moment.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma and Rāvaṇa are seen engaged directly in intense combat; the surrounding forces watch, overwhelmed by the spectacle.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vīrya (heroic power) and unwavering resolve—so striking that it arrests the attention and emotions of all observers.