Shloka 6

रावणवधदर्शनम्

Lament of the Rākṣasa Women upon Seeing Rāvaṇa Slain

Devanagari script

ददृशुस्तामहाकायंमहावीर्यंमहाद्युतिम् ।रावणंनिहतम्भूमौनीलाञ्जनचयोपमम् ।।।।

Transliteration

dadṛśus tāṃ mahākāyaṃ mahāvīryaṃ mahādyutim | rāvaṇaṃ nihataṃ bhūmau nīlāñjanacayopamam ||

Translation

അവർ മഹാകായനും മഹാവീര്യവാനും മഹാദ്യുതിയുള്ളവനുമായ രാവണനെ ഭൂമിയിൽ നിഹതനായി വീണുകിടക്കുന്നതായി കണ്ടു—നീലാഞ്ജനക്കൂമ്പാരത്തെപ്പോലെ, കറുത്ത പർവ്വതപിണ്ഡംപോലെ.

Word by Word

• ददृशुः: saw
• ददृशुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• ताम्: him/that one (acc.)
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• महाकायम्: of huge body
• महाकायम्: Karma (कर्म/object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + काय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् कायः यस्य)

• महावीर्यम्: of great valor
• महावीर्यम्: Karma (कर्म/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः

• महाद्युतिम्: of great splendor
• महाद्युतिम्: Karma (कर्म/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + द्युति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः

• रावणम्: Ravana
• रावणम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• निहतम्: slain
• निहतम्: Karma (कर्म/qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि+हन् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• भूमौ: on the ground
• भूमौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरणम्

• नील-अञ्जन-चय-उपमम्: like a heap of dark collyrium/ore
• नील-अञ्जन-चय-उपमम्: Karma (कर्म/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक) + अञ्जन (प्रातिपदिक) + चय (प्रातिपदिक) + उपम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (नीलाञ्जनस्य चयः तस्य उपमः)

Context

They looked at the gigantic body of Ravana of extraordinary valour, full of splendor, killed and lying like a heap of dark mountain on the ground.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Bhūmi (ground)

FAQs

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

Greatness without dharma ends in collapse; the fall of a radiant, mighty figure teaches the impermanence of power when severed from righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

The mourners behold Rāvaṇa’s body lying dead on the battlefield.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The epic emphasizes discernment: recognizing that valor and splendor are not substitutes for dharma.