Shloka 18

शक्तिप्रहारः

Ravana’s Shakti Javelin and Lakshmana’s Wounding

Devanagari script

हताश्वात्त्तुस्वोवेगादवप्लुत्यमहारथात् ।कोपमाहारत्तीव्रंभ्रातरंप्रतिरावणः ।।।।

Transliteration

hatāśvāt tu svo vegād avaplutya mahārathāt | kopam āhārat tīvraṃ bhrātaraṃ prati rāvaṇaḥ ||

Translation

തന്റെ കുതിരകൾ വധിക്കപ്പെട്ടപ്പോൾ രാവണൻ മഹാരഥത്തിൽ നിന്നു വേഗത്തിൽ ചാടി ഇറങ്ങി, സഹോദരൻ വിഭീഷണനോടു തീക്ഷ്ണവും ഉഗ്രവുമായ ക്രോധം പ്രകടിപ്പിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• हताश्वात्: from (the chariot) whose horses were slain
• हताश्वात्: अपादान (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हताश्व (प्रातिपदिक: हत + अश्व)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन; अर्थः 'from the (chariot) with slain horses'

• तु: but
• तु: सम्बन्धबोधक-अव्यय (Particle/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle)

• स्ववेगात्: due to his own speed
• स्ववेगात्: हेतु (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्ववेग (प्रातिपदिक: स्व + वेग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे (cause) 'due to his own speed/impetus'

• अवप्लुत्य: having leapt down
• अवप्लुत्य: पूर्वकाल (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्लु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; उपसर्ग: अव-; अर्थः 'having leapt down/descended'

• महारथात्: from the great chariot
• महारथात्: अपादान (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ (प्रातिपदिक: महा + रथ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन

• कोपम्: anger
• कोपम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• आहार: brought forth/displayed
• आहार: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + हृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; अर्थः 'brought forth/displayed'

• तीव्रम्: fierce
• तीव्रम्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीव्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण कोपम् इति

• भ्रातरम्: brother
• भ्रातरम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• प्रति: against/towards
• प्रति: सम्प्रदान/लक्ष्य (Goal/लक्ष्य)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश)
• Form: अव्यय (preposition), लक्ष्य/विरोध (towards/against)

• रावणः: Ravana
• रावणः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

Context

Then, endowed with extraordinary energy, the powerful leader of Rakshasas hurled a flaming thunderbolt like javelin at Vibheeshana.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Vibhīṣaṇa

FAQs

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

Adharma is marked by uncontrolled anger and hostility even toward kin; Dharma requires restraint and recognizing truth even when it comes from one’s own family.

What is the narrative situation?

After losing his horses, Rāvaṇa dismounts and turns his fury specifically against Vibhīṣaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast, the verse highlights the danger of krodha (anger) as a vice—Rāvaṇa’s lack of self-control drives him deeper into wrongdoing.