Shloka 15

रावणवधः — The Slaying of Ravana

Brahmāstra Discharge

Devanagari script

तस्मिन् सधनीयमानेतुराघवेणशरोत्तमे ।सर्वभूतानिसन्त्रेसुश्चचाल च वसुन्धरा ।।।।

Transliteration

tasmin sandhānīyamāne tu rāghaveṇa śarottame |

sarva-bhūtāni santreṣuś cacāla ca vasundharā ||

Translation

രാഘവൻ ആ ശ്രേഷ്ഠമായ അമ്പിനെ സംധാനിക്കുമ്പോൾ, സർവ്വഭൂതങ്ങളും ഭീതിയിൽ വിറച്ചു; വസുന്ധരയും തന്നെ നടുങ്ങി.

Word by Word

• तस्मिन्: in that (moment)
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सधनीयमाने: while being fixed/aimed
• सधनीयमाने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative absolute with तस्मिन्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: संधा (धातु) + यमान (शानच्/यमान)
• Form: कृदन्त (वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि/आत्मनेपदे शानच्-प्रत्ययः; passive present participle sense), सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; ‘being fixed/aimed’

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle: contrast/emphasis)

• राघवेण: by Raghava
• राघवेण: Karana (करण/by; agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करणम्/कर्तृ-निर्देशः (agent in locative absolute context)

• शर-उत्तमे: in/with the excellent arrow
• शर-उत्तमे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative absolute)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (उत्तमः शरः)

• सर्व-भूतानि: all beings
• सर्व-भूतानि: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (सर्वाणि भूतानि)

• सन्त्रेषु: in terror
• सन्त्रेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/state-locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सन्त्रास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; ‘in fear/terrified’ (locative of state)

• चचाल: shook/moved
• चचाल: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चल् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• वसुन्धरा: the earth
• वसुन्धरा: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसुन्धरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Context

As Raghava started fixing his excellent arrow, all beings got terrified and the earth shook.

Characters & Entities

• Rāghava (Rāma)
• Earth (vasundharā)
• All beings (sarva-bhūta)

FAQs

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

Dharma’s gravity is underscored: when justice reaches its decisive moment, the cosmos responds. The trembling signifies that righteous judgment is not trivial—it carries universal consequence.

What is the narrative situation?

Immediately before releasing the fatal arrow, Rāma sets it to the bow; the world reacts with fear and trembling as a portent of imminent end for Rāvaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Focused determination (ekāgratā): Rāma proceeds unwaveringly despite the cosmic dread surrounding the act.