Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 108, Shloka 31

रावणरथवैभव–निमित्तदर्शन–राममातलिसंवादः

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

Devanagari script

कुर्वन्त: कलहंघोरंशारिकास्तद्रथंप्रति ।।।।निपेतुश्शतशस्तत्रदारुणादारुणारुताः ।

Transliteration

kurvantaḥ kalahaṃ ghoraṃ śārikās tad-rathaṃ prati |

nipetuḥ śataśas tatra dāruṇā dāruṇārutāḥ ||

Translation

ຮ້ອງສຽງນ່າສະພຶງ ແລະກໍ່ຄວາມອື້ອອຶງອັນດຸຮ້າຍ ຝູງນົກສາຣິກາກໍຕົກລົງໃສ່ລົດສົງຄາມນັ້ນເປັນຮ້ອຍໆ ນ່າຫວາດຫວັນດ້ວຍສຽງອັນກະດ້າງຂອງມັນ។

Word by Word

• कुर्वन्तः: making/producing
• कुर्वन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु) (कृदन्त; शतृ)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom.1), बहुवचन (Pl.)

• कलहम्: clamor/uproar
• कलहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया (Acc.2), एकवचन (Sg.)

• घोरम्: dreadful
• घोरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया (Acc.2), एकवचन (Sg.); विशेषण

• शारिकाः: minas (birds)
• शारिकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शारिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom.1), बहुवचन (Pl.)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Acc.2), एकवचन (Sg.); सर्वनाम-विशेषण

• रथम्: chariot
• रथम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया (Acc.2), एकवचन (Sg.)

• प्रति: towards/against
• प्रति: Adhikarana/Direction (अधिकरण/दिशा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग/अव्यय (preposition-like indeclinable)

• निपेतुः: fell down
• निपेतुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पत् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन (Pl.)

• शतशः: in hundreds
• शतशः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शतशस् (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/आवृत्ति-अव्यय (distributive adverb: 'by hundreds')

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• दारुणाः: terrible
• दारुणाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom.1), बहुवचन (Pl.); विशेषण (of शारिकाः)

• दारुणारुताः: uttering dreadful cries
• दारुणारुताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दारुण-आरुत (कृदन्त; दारुण + √रु (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom.1), बहुवचन (Pl.); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle used adjectivally)

Context

Hundreds of minas making frightening sounds, fighting in terrific manner emitting dreadful cries had fallen on the chariot there.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa (implied via chariot context)
• ratha (chariot)

FAQs

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

When a ruler departs from dharma, even symbols of auspicious order invert; the world mirrors moral disorder through ominous disruptions.

What is the narrative situation?

Birds swarm and strike Rāvaṇa’s chariot, creating a terrifying uproar—one among multiple portents of defeat.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Implied is the virtue of rightful kingship (rāja-dharma): protection and harmony. Its absence is suggested by hostile, chaotic signs.