Shloka 16

रावणवधः — The Slaying of Ravana

Brahmāstra Discharge

Devanagari script

स रावणायसङ्रुद्धोभृशमायम्यकार्मुकम् ।चिक्षेपपरमायत्तःशरंमर्मविदारणम् ।।।।

Transliteration

sa rāvaṇāya saṅruddho bhṛśam āyamya kārmukam |

cikṣepa paramāyattaḥ śaraṁ marma-vidāraṇam ||

Translation

രാവണനോടു ക്രോധിച്ച് അവൻ ധനുസ്സിനെ അത്യന്തം വലിച്ചു, പൂർണ്ണ ഏകാഗ്രതയോടെ മർമ്മവിദാരകമായ അമ്പ് എറിഞ്ഞു.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (Nominative singular, masculine pronoun)

• रावणाय: to/at Ravana
• रावणाय: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Recipient-Target)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे चतुर्थी-एकवचनम् (Dative singular)

• सङ्क्रुद्धः: enraged, furious
• सङ्क्रुद्धः: कर्ता-विशेषणम् (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्+क्रुध् (धातु) → सङ्क्रुद्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्तः (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (Past passive participle; nominative singular masculine)

• भृशम्: exceedingly, greatly
• भृशम्: क्रियाविशेषणम् (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भृशम् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्ययम् (adverb)

• आयम्य: having stretched
• आयम्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+यम् (धातु) → आयम्य (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्तम् (Gerund/absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया (having done earlier action)

• कार्मुकम्: bow
• कार्मुकम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्मुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-एकवचनम् (Accusative singular, neuter)

• चिक्षेप: he hurled/released
• चिक्षेप: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुषः एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम् (3rd person singular, perfect)

• परमायत्तः: fully prepared, well-aimed
• परमायत्तः: कर्ता-विशेषणम् (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम + आयत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समासः; पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (nominative singular masculine; qualifier)

• शरम्: arrow
• शरम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-एकवचनम् (Accusative singular)

• मर्मविदारणम्: tearing vital parts
• मर्मविदारणम्: कर्म-विशेषणम् (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मर्म + विदारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (marmāṇām vidāraṇam); नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (accusative singular neuter agreeing with शरम्)

Context

Rama, provoked by anger, stretched the bow to full length, very well prepared, released the arrow on Ravana, which was capable of tearing into the vital parts.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Rāvaṇa
• Bow (kārmuka)
• Arrow (śara)

FAQs

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

Righteous combat requires both just cause and controlled execution. Though anger is present, the verse stresses preparedness and control (āyatta), aligning force with duty rather than mere passion.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma takes aim at Rāvaṇa in the decisive moment of the duel and releases the lethal arrow.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kṣātra-vīrya guided by restraint: martial power coupled with deliberate, purposeful action.