Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 110, Shloka 28

रामरावणयोर्युद्धवैषम्यं तथा रावणशिरश्छेदनम्

Rama–Ravana Duel Intensifies; Ravana’s Heads Severed and Reappear

Devanagari script

द्वितीयंरावणशिरश्छिन्नंसम्यतिसायकैः ।छिन्नमात्रं च तच्चीर्षंपुनरेवप्रदृश्यते ।।।।

Transliteration

dvitīyaṃ rāvaṇa-śiraś chinnaṃ samyati sāyakaiḥ | chinna-mātraṃ ca tac cīrṣaṃ punar eva pradṛśyate ||

Translation

യുദ്ധത്തിൽ രാമന്റെ ബാണങ്ങളാൽ രാവണന്റെ രണ്ടാമത്തെ ശിരസ് പൂർണ്ണമായി ഛേദിക്കപ്പെട്ടു; എന്നാൽ ഛേദിച്ച ഉടൻ തന്നെ ആ ശിരസ് വീണ്ടും പ്രത്യക്ഷമായി കാണപ്പെട്ടു.

Word by Word

• द्वितीयम्: second (time)
• द्वितीयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvitīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रमवाचक (second)

• रावणशिरः: Ravana's head
• रावणशिरः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa + śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'रावणस्य शिरः'

• छिन्नम्: cut off
• छिन्नम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √chid (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'cut off'

• सम्यति: in battle
• सम्यति: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samyati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय/सप्तमी-एकवचन-रूपेण अव्ययीभूत-प्रयोगः; अर्थे: समरे/युद्धे (in battle)

• सायकैः: by arrows
• सायकैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; 'by arrows'

• छिन्नमात्रम्: only just cut
• छिन्नमात्रम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: chinna + mātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'छिन्नम् एव मात्रम्' (just cut)

• च: and
• च: None (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; निर्देशक

• शीर्षम्: head
• शीर्षम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śīrṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (प्रदृश्यते इत्यस्य कर्तृ-स्थानी)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्ति (again)

• एव: indeed
• एव: None (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (indeed/just)

• प्रदृश्यते: appears
• प्रदृश्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-भावः (appears/is seen)

Context

Before cutting that second head of Ravana again another head appeared.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Arrows (sāyaka)
• Battle (samyati)

FAQs

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

It suggests that adharma can be tenacious and recurring; Dharma’s victory may require more than a single strike—endurance and right means are essential.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma cuts off a second head, but it reappears immediately, revealing Rāvaṇa’s extraordinary resilience.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Unwavering determination—continuing the righteous task even when obstacles seem to reset.