Shloka 22

द्विचत्वारिंशः सर्गः (Sarga 42): Omens in Laṅkā, Report to Rāvaṇa, and the Kinkara Assault

Devanagari script

राक्षसीनां वचश्त्रुत्वा रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः।हुताग्निरिव जज्वाल कोपसंवर्तितेक्षणः।।5.42.22।।

Transliteration

rākṣasīnāṃ vacaḥ śrutvā rāvaṇo rākṣaseśvaraḥ | hutāgnir iva jajvāla kopasaṃvartitekṣaṇaḥ || 5.42.22 ||

Translation

രാക്ഷസീകളുടെ വാക്കുകൾ കേട്ടപ്പോൾ, രാക്ഷസേശ്വരനായ രാവണൻ ക്രോധം കുലുക്കുന്ന കണ്ണുകളോടെ ഹോമാഗ്നിപോലെ ജ്വലിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• राक्षसीनाम्: of the demonesses
• राक्षसीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• वचः: words; speech
• वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund); पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया (having heard)

• रावणः: Ravana
• रावणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• राक्षस-ईश्वरः: lord of the demons
• राक्षस-ईश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (राक्षसानाम् ईश्वरः)

• हुत-अग्निः: sacrificial fire
• हुत-अग्निः: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हुत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, हु+क्त) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (हुतः अग्निः = आहवनीय/यज्ञाग्निः)

• इव: like
• इव: Upamana-marker (उपमा-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय (like/as)

• जज्वाल: blazed; flared up
• जज्वाल: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्वल् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कोप-संवर्तित-ईक्षणः: whose eyes were rolling/whirling with anger
• कोप-संवर्तित-ईक्षणः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोप (प्रातिपदिक) + संवर्तित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, सम्-वृत्+क्त) + ईक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (कोपेन संवर्तिते ईक्षणे यस्य)

Context

From his angry eyes fell down drops of tears just as burning drops of oil drip from two burning lamps.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• rākṣasī (ogresses)

FAQs

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

The verse cautions that unchecked krodha (anger) consumes judgment. Dharma requires self-restraint; adharma is marked by rage that erupts into violence rather than reflection and correction.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa receives the report from the rākṣasīs and reacts with intense fury.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Negatively, it emphasizes the lack of dama (self-control) in Rāvaṇa—an ethical failing central to his downfall.