Shloka 23

रावणवधः — The Slaying of Ravana

Brahmāstra Discharge

Devanagari script

तंदृष्टवापतितंभूमौहतशेषानिशाचराः ।हतनाधाभयत्रस्तास्सर्वतस्सम्प्रदुद्रुवुः ।।।।

Transliteration

taṃ dṛṣṭvā patitaṃ bhūmau hataśeṣā niśācarāḥ |

hatanāthā bhayatrastāḥ sarvatas sampradudruvuḥ ||

Translation

അവനെ ഭൂമിയിൽ വീണുകിടക്കുന്നതു കണ്ടപ്പോൾ, ശേഷിച്ച നിശാചരർ—സ്വാമി വധിക്കപ്പെട്ടതിനാൽ നേതാവില്ലാത്തവർ—ഭീതിയാൽ വിറച്ച് എല്ലാദിക്കുകളിലേക്കും ഓടിപ്പോയി.

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object of seeing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-एकवचनम् (Accusative singular)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) → दृष्ट्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्तम् (Gerund)

• पतितम्: fallen
• पतितम्: कर्म-विशेषणम्
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पत् (धातु) → पतित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त/PPP; पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifying तम्)

• भूमौ: on the ground
• भूमौ: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे सप्तमी-एकवचनम् (Locative singular)

• हतशेषाः: the remaining survivors (after slaughter)
• हतशेषाः: कर्ता-विशेषणम् (Qualifier of niśācarāḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हत + शेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समासः (हताः शेषाः येषाम्); पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• निशाचराः: night-rangers, rakshasas
• निशाचराः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशा + चर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (निशायां चरन्ति); पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्

• हतनाथाः: whose lord was slain
• हतनाथाः: कर्ता-विशेषणम्
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हत + नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समासः (हतः नाथः येषाम्); पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• भयत्रस्ताः: terrified by fear
• भयत्रस्ताः: कर्ता-विशेषणम्
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भय + त्रस्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (भयेन त्रस्ताः); क्त/PPP; पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• सर्वतः: in all directions
• सर्वतः: क्रियाविशेषणम्
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: देश-वाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb: from all sides)

• सम्प्रदुद्रुवुः: ran away, fled
• सम्प्रदुद्रुवुः: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+प्र+द्रु (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुषः बहुवचनम्, परस्मैपदम् (3rd person plural perfect)

Context

Seeing their Lord killed and fallen on the ground, the leftover night rangers fled all over in fear.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• niśācarāḥ (rākṣasas)
• bhūmi (earth/ground)

FAQs

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

When a cause is rooted in adharma, it lacks inner stability; once the unjust leader falls, the structure collapses into fear and flight.

What is the narrative situation?

The surviving rākṣasas see Rāvaṇa dead on the ground and scatter in terror.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse highlights the contrast between dharmic unity (on Rāma’s side) and fear-driven disintegration (on Rāvaṇa’s side).