Shloka 25

रावणवधः — The Slaying of Ravana

Brahmāstra Discharge

Devanagari script

अर्दितावानरैर्भ्रष्टालङ्कामभ्यपतन् भयात् ।हताश्रयात्वात्करुणैर्भाष्पप्रस्रवणैर्मुखैः ।।।।

Transliteration

arditā vānarair bhraṣṭā laṅkām abhyapatan bhayāt |

hatāśrayāt tvāt karuṇair bāṣpaprasravaṇair mukhaiḥ ||

Translation

വാനരന്മാർക്കാൽ മുറിവേറ്റും യുദ്ധത്തിൽ തകർന്നും അവർ ഭയത്തോടെ ലങ്കയിലേക്കു ഓടിപ്പോയി; ആശ്രയം നഷ്ടമായതിനാൽ കരുണാഭരിതമായ മുഖങ്ങളിൽ നിന്നു കണ്ണീർധാരകൾ ഒഴുകി.

Word by Word

• अर्दिताः: harassed, tormented
• अर्दिताः: कर्ता-विशेषणम्
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्द् (धातु) → अर्दित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त/PPP; पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifying implied rakshasas)

• वानरैः: by the vanaras
• वानरैः: करण (Karaṇa/Agent-instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-बहुवचनम् (Instrumental plural)

• भ्रष्टाः: defeated, routed
• भ्रष्टाः: कर्ता-विशेषणम्
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्रंश् (धातु) → भ्रष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त/PPP; पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• लङ्काम्: to Lanka
• लङ्काम्: कर्म/गति-लक्ष्य (Goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लङ्का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया-एकवचनम् (Accusative singular; goal)

• अभ्यपतन्: ran towards, fled to
• अभ्यपतन्: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि+पत् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुषः बहुवचनम्, परस्मैपदम् (3rd person plural imperfect)

• भयात्: out of fear
• भयात्: हेतु (Hetu/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे पञ्चमी-एकवचनम् (Ablative singular; cause)

• हताश्रयत्वात्: because their refuge/leader was slain
• हताश्रयत्वात्: हेतु (Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हत + आश्रय + त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (हतः आश्रयः इति भावः) + त्व-प्रत्यय (abstract noun); नपुंसकलिङ्गे पञ्चमी-एकवचनम् (Ablative singular; cause)

• करुणैः: piteous
• करुणैः: विशेषण-करण (Descriptive instrumental)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: करुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (instrumental plural qualifying मुखैः)

• बाष्पप्रस्रवणैः: with tears streaming
• बाष्पप्रस्रवणैः: विशेषण-करण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बाष्प + प्रस्रवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (बाष्पस्य प्रस्रवणम्); पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifying मुखैः)

• मुखैः: with faces
• मुखैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument-Mode)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया-बहुवचनम् (Instrumental plural)

Context

The Rakshasas hurt by the Vanaras, lost battle and their king killed, were piteous and went towards Lanka in fear, eyes filled with tears.

Characters & Entities

• Vānaras
• Rākṣasas (implied)
• Laṅkā

FAQs

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

Depending on an adharmic refuge is unstable; when false support collapses, fear and sorrow follow—dharma is the lasting shelter.

What is the narrative situation?

The defeated rākṣasas, injured and terrified, retreat toward Laṅkā weeping after their king’s fall.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse functions as a warning: true security lies in righteous conduct, not in oppressive power.