Shloka 21

रावणशूलप्रक्षेपः

Ravana Hurls the Trident; Rama Counters with Indra’s Javelin

Devanagari script

तद्रावणकरान्मुक्तंविद्युन्मालासमावृतम् ।अष्टघण्टंमहानादंवियद्गतमशोभत ।।।।

Transliteration

tad rāvaṇakarān muktaṃ vidyun-mālā-samāvṛtam | aṣṭaghaṇṭaṃ mahānādaṃ viyad-gatam aśobhata ||

Translation

രാവണന്റെ കൈയിൽ നിന്നു വിട്ട ആ ശൂലം മിന്നൽമാലകളാൽ ചുറ്റപ്പെട്ട് ജ്വലിച്ചു; എട്ട് മണികളോടുകൂടി മഹാനാദം മുഴക്കി, ആകാശമാർഗ്ഗത്തിൽ പാഞ്ഞുപോകുമ്പോൾ അതി ദീപ്തമായി ശോഭിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• tat: that
• tat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; refers to śūlam understood

• rāvaṇa-karāt: from Ravana's hand
• rāvaṇa-karāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; 'from Ravana's hand'

• muktam: released / hurled
• muktam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √muc (धातु) + kta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Napumsaka, Nominative, Singular; qualifies tat (śūlam)

• vidyun-mālā-samāvṛtam: covered with a lightning-garland
• vidyun-mālā-samāvṛtam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vidyut (प्रातिपदिक) + mālā (प्रातिपदिक) + sam-ā-√vṛ (धातु) + kta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Napumsaka, Nominative, Singular; multi-member तत्पुरुष: 'vidyut-mālāyā samāvṛtam' = covered with a garland/circle of lightning

• aṣṭa-ghaṇṭam: eight-belled
• aṣṭa-ghaṇṭam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṣṭa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + ghaṇṭā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Nominative, Singular; द्विगु: 'aṣṭau ghaṇṭāḥ yasmin' = having eight bells

• mahā-nādam: loud-sounding
• mahā-nādam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + nāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Napumsaka, Nominative, Singular used adjectivally; 'great-sounding'

• viyat-gatam: sky-going / moving through the air
• viyat-gatam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viyat (प्रातिपदिक) + gata (कृदन्त; √gam धातु, क्त)
• Form: Napumsaka, Nominative, Singular; 'gone into the sky'

• aśobhata: shone
• aśobhata: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śubh (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd Person, Singular; ātmanepada

Context

The trident discharged from Ravana's hand, made circles of lightning, and covered the atmosphere with its glow and shine along with eight bells making loud sounds.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• śūla (trident)
• vidyut (lightning)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is implied through discernment: dazzling power and terrifying display are not proofs of righteousness. The epic repeatedly teaches that moral truth (satya) and rightful conduct, not spectacle, determine victory.

What is the narrative situation?

The thrown trident is described in vivid, cosmic imagery as it travels through the air toward Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s forthcoming self-control is prepared for: the verse sets up a test where calm judgment must meet overwhelming force.