Shloka 38

शक्तिप्रहारः

Ravana’s Shakti Javelin and Lakshmana’s Wounding

Devanagari script

स मुहूर्तमिवध्यात्वाबाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणः ।बभूवसम्रब्धतरोयुगान्तइवपावकः ।।।।

Transliteration

sa muhūrtam iva dhyātvā bāṣpaparyākulekṣaṇaḥ | babhūva samrabdhataro yugānta iva pāvakaḥ ||

Translation

അവൻ ഒരു മുഹൂർത്തം ധ്യാനത്തിൽ ലീനനായി, കണ്ണുകൾ കണ്ണുനീരാൽ മങ്ങിയിരുന്നു; പിന്നെ യുഗാന്താഗ്നിയെപ്പോലെ അത്യന്തം പ്രചണ്ഡനായി.

Word by Word

• सः: he (Rama)
• सः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• मुहूर्तम्: for a moment
• मुहूर्तम्: कालाधिकरण (Kāla-adhikaraṇa/Temporal extent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुहूर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; कालपरिमाण (measure of time)

• इव: as if
• इव: सम्बन्ध (Upamā-sambandha/Comparison marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (comparative particle)

• ध्यात्वा: having reflected
• ध्यात्वा: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Pūrvakāla-kriyā/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु) + क्त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), 'having meditated/reflected'

• बाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणः: whose eyes were troubled with tears
• बाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बाष्प + पर्याकुल + ईक्षण (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (bāṣpeṇa paryākulaṃ īkṣaṇaṃ yasya), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्—सः

• बभूव: became
• बभूव: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सम्रब्धतरः: more agitated, fiercer
• सम्रब्धतरः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्रब्ध (प्रातिपदिक; from रभ्/रम्भ्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; तरप्-प्रत्यय (comparative): 'more/very agitated'

• युगान्ते: at the end of an age
• युगान्ते: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location-time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युगान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (yugasya antaḥ), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपमान-प्रयोगे (in comparison)

• इव: like
• इव: सम्बन्ध (Upamā-sambandha/Comparison marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय

• पावकः: fire
• पावकः: उपमान (Upamāna/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पावक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपमान (standard of comparison)

Context

Watching Lakshmana in that situation, most courageous Raghava, out of brotherly affection felt despondent at heart.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (implied by context)
• yugānta (end of an age)
• pāvaka (fire)

FAQs

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

The verse distinguishes righteous resolve from blind rage: grief is acknowledged, then transformed into determined action to uphold dharma and protect the righteous.

What is the narrative situation?

After briefly grieving with tear-filled eyes, Rāma’s demeanor shifts into fierce, decisive intensity.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral resolve—turning sorrow into purposeful action in defense of righteousness.