Shloka 20

रावणवधः — The Slaying of Ravana

Brahmāstra Discharge

Devanagari script

स शरोरावणंहत्वारुधिरार्द्रीकृतच्छविः ।कृतकर्मानिभृतवत्स्वतूणींपुनराविशत् ।।।।

Transliteration

sa śaro rāvaṇaṁ hatvā rudhirārdrī-kṛta-cchaviḥ |

kṛta-karmā nibhṛtavat sva-tūṇīṁ punar āviśat ||

Translation

ആ ശരം രാവണനെ സംഹരിച്ച് രക്തത്തിൽ തന്റെ ദീപ്തി മങ്ങിയാക്കി; കൃത്യം പൂർത്തിയാക്കി നിശ്ശബ്ദമായി വീണ്ടും തന്റെ തൂണീരിലേക്കു മടങ്ങി പ്രവേശിച്ചു.

Word by Word

सःthat

शरःarrow

रावणम्Ravana

हत्वाhaving slain

रुधिरार्द्रीकृतच्छविःwhose appearance was made wet with blood

कृतकर्माhaving accomplished its task

निभृतवत्quietly

स्वतूणीम्its own quiver

पुनःagain

आविशत्entered

Context

That arrow of Rama, on killing Ravana, soaked in blood, having accomplished the task quietly re-entered its quiver.

Characters & Entities

Rāvaṇa

Arrow (śara)

Quiver (tūṇī)

FAQs

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

Dharma is restraint after victory: once the rightful objective is achieved, force withdraws. The arrow’s calm return symbolizes bounded, non-excessive violence in a just cause.

What is the narrative situation?

After killing Rāvaṇa, the arrow completes its trajectory and returns to the quiver, marking the end of the decisive act.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Measured completion (maryādā): action that ends exactly where duty ends—no cruelty beyond necessity.