Shloka 22

रावणवधः — The Slaying of Ravana

Brahmāstra Discharge

Devanagari script

गतासुर्भीमवेगस्तुनैरृतेन्द्रोमहाद्युतिः ।पपातस्यन्दनाद्भूमौवृत्रोवज्रहतोयथा ।।।।

Transliteration

gatāsur bhīmavegas tu nairṛtendro mahādyutiḥ |

papāta syandanād bhūmau vṛtro vajrahato yathā ||

Translation

命を失った羅刹の王は、恐るべき疾さと大いなる威光を帯びながら、戦車から地に倒れた。まるでインドラの金剛の雷に討たれたヴリトラのように。

Word by Word

गतासुःlifeless, with life gone

भीमवेगःof terrible speed

तुindeed

नैरृतेन्द्रःlord of the Rakshasas

महाद्युतिःof great splendor

पपातfell

स्यन्दनात्from the chariot

भूमौon the ground

वृत्रःVṛtra

वज्रहतःslain by the thunderbolt

यथाjust as

Context

The king of Rakshasas, who possessed terrific speed and courage, having lost life, fell on earth like Vrttra struck down by thunderbolt.

Characters & Entities

Rāvaṇa

syandana (chariot)

Vṛtra

vajra (thunderbolt)

Indra (implied by vajra)

FAQs

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

Adharma, however formidable, is ultimately brought down by the moral order of the world—here expressed through a cosmic simile (Vṛtra and the vajra).

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa’s lifeless body falls from his chariot onto the earth after being slain.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s righteous resolve is implied: victory comes through adherence to dharma rather than mere force.