Shloka 6

सुवेलारोहणं रावण-सुग्रीव-नियुद्धम्

Ascent of Suvela and the Ravana–Sugriva Duel

Devanagari script

तस्यांगोपुरशृङ्गस्थंराक्षसेन्द्रंदुरासदम् ।।6.40.3।।श्वेतचामरपर्यन्तंविजयच्छत्रशोभितम् ।रक्तचन्दनसंलिप्तंरत्नाभरणभूषितम् ।।6.40.4।।नीलजीमूतसङ्काशंहेमसञ्छादिताम्बरम् ।ऐरावतविषाणाग्रैरुत्कृष्टकिणवक्षसम् ।।6.40.5।।शशलोहितरागेणसंवीतंरक्तवाससा ।सन्ध्यातपेनसंवीतंमेघराशिमिवाम्बरे ।।6.40.6।।

Transliteration

tasyāṃ gopuraśṛṅgasthaṃ rākṣasendraṃ durāsadam |

śvetacāmaraparyantaṃ vijayacchatraśobhitam |

raktacandanasaṃliptaṃ ratnābharaṇabhūṣitam |

nīlajīmūtasaṅkāśaṃ hemasaṃchāditāmbaram |

airāvataviṣāṇāgrair utkṛṣṭakiṇavakṣasam |

śaśalohitarāgeṇa saṃvītaṃ raktavāsasā |

sandhyātapena saṃvītaṃ megharāśim ivāmbare ||

Translation

രാമൻ കൊട്ടാരഗോപുരത്തിന്റെ ശിഖരത്തിൽ നിൽക്കുന്ന, സമീപിക്കാൻ ദുഷ്കരനായ രാക്ഷസേന്ദ്രനെ കണ്ടു—വെള്ള ചാമരങ്ങൾ വീശുന്ന സേവകരാൽ പരിചരിക്കപ്പെട്ടും വിജയഛത്രംകൊണ്ട് ശോഭിതനുമായ്. ചുവന്ന ചന്ദനം പുരട്ടിയവൻ, രത്നാഭരണങ്ങളാൽ അലങ്കരിക്കപ്പെട്ടവൻ, സ്വർണ്ണക്കസവുള്ള വസ്ത്രം ധരിച്ചവൻ—നീലമേഘസമൂഹംപോലെ തോന്നി. അവന്റെ വക്ഷസ്ഥലത്ത് ഉയർന്ന മുറിവുപാടുകൾ—ഐരാവതത്തിന്റെ ദന്താഗ്രങ്ങൾ കൊണ്ടു കുറിയപ്പെട്ടതുപോലെ; കർമിഴി വസ്ത്രത്തിൽ പൊതിഞ്ഞ്, സന്ധ്യയുടെ ചുവപ്പൊളിയിൽ ദീപ്തമായ ആകാശത്തിലെ മേഘരാശിപോലെ പ്രകാശിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• शश: hare
• शश: समासाङ्ग (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रातिपदिक-रूपेण समासपूर्वपद (compound member); मूलार्थः "hare"

• लोहित: red
• लोहित: समासाङ्ग (Compound member)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक-रूपेण समासपूर्वपद (compound member); वर्णविशेषणम् "red"

• रागेण: with the hue/dye
• रागेण: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); समासोत्तरपद (in śaśa-lोहित-rāga)

• संवीतम्: covered, clad
• संवीतम्: कर्मणि-विशेषण (Object/Patient qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-वी (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषणम् (covered/clad)

• रक्त: red
• रक्त: समासाङ्ग (Compound member)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक-रूपेण समासपूर्वपद (compound member) in रक्त-वासस्

• वाससा: by/with a garment
• वाससा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); वस्त्रार्थकं (garment)

• सन्ध्या: twilight
• सन्ध्या: समासाङ्ग (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्ध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रातिपदिक-रूपेण समासपूर्वपद (compound member) in सन्ध्या-तप

• तपेन: with the glow/heat
• तपेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); अत्र "तप" = heat/glow

• संवीतम्: covered
• संवीतम्: कर्मणि-विशेषण (Object/Patient qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-वी (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); पुनरुक्त-विशेषणम्

• मेघ: cloud
• मेघ: समासाङ्ग (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रातिपदिक-रूपेण समासपूर्वपद (compound member) in मेघ-राशि

• राशिम्: a mass/heap
• राशिम्: कर्म (Karman/Object) (उपमान-रूपेण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राशि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); उपमान (object of comparison)

• इव: like
• इव: सम्बन्ध (Comparison marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (particle of comparison): "like/as"

• अम्बरे: in the sky
• अम्बरे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

Context

In the meantime, Ravana thought of exhibiting his superiority by jugglery and jumped to the sky. Knowing that Sugriva, the untiring Vanara king assumed the air of victor and rose up to the sky. Baffled Ravana stood thinking Sugriva would come there.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Rāvaṇa
• Rākṣasas
• Airāvata
• Gopura (palace-gateway tower)
• Lankā (implied setting)

FAQs

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

The verse frames power and splendor as morally neutral: outward majesty can accompany inner adharma. Dharma requires discernment—judging character and conduct, not being overawed by royal display.

What is the narrative situation?

In Laṅkā’s battlefield setting, Rāma sees Rāvaṇa displayed on the palace-gateway summit with ceremonial emblems, setting the stage for the vānara leaders’ reaction and challenge.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s steadiness and discernment are implied: he observes an intimidating enemy without moral confusion, preparing for righteous action rather than reacting to spectacle.