Shloka 8

रावणवधः — The Slaying of Ravana

Brahmāstra Discharge

Devanagari script

सधूममिवकालानगिंदीप्तमाशीविषोपमम् ।नरनागाश्ववृद्धानांभेदनंक्षिप्रकारिणम् ।।।।

Transliteration

sa dhūmam iva kālān agniṃ dīptam āśīviṣopamam |

nara-nāga-aśva-vṛndānāṃ bhedanaṃ kṣipra-kāriṇam ||

Translation

劫末の火のように煙を上げ、燃えさかり、毒蛇にも似て、それは敵の群れ—人々、象、馬—をたちまち打ち砕いた。

Word by Word

• sa-dhūmam: smoke-filled
• sa-dhūmam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa + dhūma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (सह-समास/sa- = with); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• iva: like, as
• iva: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• kālānagim: the fire of Time (cosmic dissolution-fire)
• kālānagim: Upamāna (उपमान/standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kālānagi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; उपमान (object of comparison)

• dīptam: blazing
• dīptam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīp (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past participle used adjectivally); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• āśīviṣa-upamam: like a venomous serpent
• āśīviṣa-upamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āśīviṣa + upama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (āśīviṣa-upama = comparable to a venomous serpent); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• nara-nāga-aśva-vṛddhānām: of men, elephants, horses, and the aged
• nara-nāga-aśva-vṛddhānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/‘of’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara + nāga + aśva + vṛddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (list); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन

• bhedanam: splitting, piercing
• bhedanam: Karma (कर्म/object; ‘that which causes splitting’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhedana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• kṣipra-kāriṇam: swift-acting
• kṣipra-kāriṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣipra + kārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (kṣipra-kārin = acting quickly); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

Context

Like fire at the time of dissolution of the universe, burning like venomous serpent, capable of splitting hosts of enemy, men, elephants, and horses and quick in action.

Characters & Entities

• Divine arrow (Mahā-bāṇa)

FAQs

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

The verse warns that adharma invites overwhelming consequences: when righteous force is unleashed for protection, it becomes swift and unavoidable against oppressive aggression.

What is the narrative situation?

The text emphasizes the weapon’s terrifying efficacy, preparing the reader for the irreversible turning point in the war.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s controlled strength: the terror belongs to the weapon’s sanctioned power, not to indiscriminate cruelty.