Shloka 10

धूम्राक्षप्रेषणम्

The Dispatch of Dhūmrākṣa

Devanagari script

सन्त्रस्तहृदयाःसर्वेप्राकारात् वरुह्यते ।विषण्णवदनाघोराराक्षसेन्द्रमुपस्थिता ।।6.51.10।।

Transliteration

santrasta-hṛdayāḥ sarve prākārāt avaruhya te | viṣaṇṇa-vadanā ghorā rākṣasendram upasthitāḥ ||6.51.10||

Translation

ഭയത്താൽ വിറച്ച ഹൃദയങ്ങളോടെ ആ ഭീകരരാക്ഷസന്മാർ എല്ലാവരും മതിൽമുകളിൽ നിന്നിറങ്ങി, വിഷണ്ണമുഖങ്ങളോടെ രാക്ഷസേന്ദ്രനായ രാവണന്റെ അടുക്കൽ ചെന്നു ഹാജരായി.

Word by Word

• सन्त्रस्तहृदयाः: frightened at heart
• सन्त्रस्तहृदयाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सन्त्रस्त + हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (सन्त्रस्तं हृदयं येषाम्) — ‘ते/सर्वे’ इति विशेष्यस्य

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• प्राकारात्: from the rampart
• प्राकारात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन

• अवरुह्य: having descended
• अवरुह्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + रुह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• विषण्णवदनाः: with dejected faces
• विषण्णवदनाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषण्ण + वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (विषण्णं वदनं येषाम्)

• घोराः: dreadful
• घोराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् — ते

• राक्षसेन्द्रम्: the king of Rakshasas
• राक्षसेन्द्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (राक्षसानाम् इन्द्रः)

• उपस्थिताः: approached, came near
• उपस्थिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + स्था (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; क्रियार्थे—‘arrived/approached’

Context

All the dreadful Rakshasas getting down the boundary wall with pale faces, sad countenance reached the Lord of Rakshasas.

Characters & Entities

• Rākṣasas
• Rākṣasendra (Rāvaṇa)

FAQs

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

When a cause is rooted in adharma, even the powerful become inwardly insecure; unrighteous leadership breeds fear rather than confidence.

What is the narrative situation?

Rākṣasa defenders, alarmed by the enemy’s approach, leave the walls and report to Rāvaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Implicitly, the contrastive virtue: dharmic steadiness versus adharma-induced panic and instability.