Shloka 26

रावणशूलप्रक्षेपः

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

Devanagari script

स तांमातलिनानीतांशक्तिंवासवसम्मताम् ।जग्राहपरमक्रुद्धोराघवोरघुनन्दनः ।।।।

Transliteration

sa tāṃ mātalinānītāṃ śaktiṃ vāsava-sammatām | jagrāha paramakruddho rāghavo raghunandanaḥ ||

Translation

അപ്പോൾ അത്യന്തം ക്രുദ്ധനായ രഘുനന്ദനൻ രാഘവൻ, മാതലി കൊണ്ടുവന്നതും വാസവൻ അംഗീകരിച്ചതുമായ ആ ശക്തി (ജാവലിൻ) കൈയിൽ എടുത്തു.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tām: that
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; शक्तिम् विशेषयति

• mātalinā: by Mātali
• mātalinā: Kartr̥ (कर्तृ/कर्तृकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; कर्तृ-करणभावे (agent in passive sense)

• ānītām: brought
• ānītām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-√nī (धातु)
• Form: भूतकाले क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; शक्तिम् विशेषयति

• śaktim: javelin/spear
• śaktim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• vāsava-sammatām: approved by Vāsava (Indra)
• vāsava-sammatām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāsava (प्रातिपदिक) + √man (धातु) [sammata]
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (वासवेन सम्मता), भूतकाले क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP used adjectivally), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; शक्तिम् विशेषयति

• jagrāha: seized
• jagrāha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √grah (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• parama-kruddhaḥ: extremely angry
• parama-kruddhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + √krudh (धातु) [kruddha]
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (परमः क्रुद्धः), क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; राघवः विशेषयति

• rāghavaḥ: Rāghava
• rāghavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• raghu-nandanaḥ: delight of the Raghus
• raghu-nandanaḥ: Apposition (सम्बोधन/विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raghu (प्रातिपदिक) + nandana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (रघोः नन्दनः), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; राघवस्य उपाधि

Context

Raghava, the enhancer of the joy of Raghus, lifted up the javelin brought by Matali, esteemed by Indra.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Rāghava, Raghunandana)
• Mātali
• Vāsava (Indra)
• śakti (javelin)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes rightful support for a righteous cause: divine/royal assistance (Indra’s approved weapon via Mātali) is portrayed as aligning with satya when used to restrain adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

After his arrows fail, Rāma takes up a powerful divine javelin delivered by Mātali, signaling a shift to a higher-order countermeasure.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Pragmatic wisdom and readiness: Rāma adapts without abandoning righteousness, choosing a fitting means to neutralize a greater threat.