Shloka 18

युद्धाय रावणस्य निर्याणं तथा उत्पातदर्शनम्

Ravana’s Mobilization for War and the ظهور of Fatal Portents

Devanagari script

हतोभर्ताहतोभ्रातायासां च चतनयोहतः ।वधेनाद्यरिपोस्तासांकरोम्यश्रुप्रमार्जनम् ।।6.96.18।।

Transliteration

hato bhartā hato bhrātā yāsāṃ ca ca tanayo hataḥ | vadhenādya ripos tāsāṃ karomy aśru-pramārjanam ||6.96.18||

Translation

ഭർത്താവ് കൊല്ലപ്പെട്ടവരും, സഹോദരൻ കൊല്ലപ്പെട്ടവരും, മകനും കൊല്ലപ്പെട്ടവരുമായ ആ സ്ത്രീകളുടെ കണ്ണീർ ഇന്ന് ശത്രുവിനെ വധിച്ച് ഞാൻ തുടച്ചുമാറ്റും—എന്നു രാവണൻ പറഞ്ഞു.

Word by Word

हतःkilled

भर्ताhusband

हतःkilled

भ्राताbrother

यासाम्whose (of whom)

चand

तनयःson

हतःkilled

वधेनby the killing

अद्यtoday

रिपोःof the enemy

तासाम्of those (women)

करोमिI do/make

अश्रुप्रमार्जनम्wiping away tears

Context

"Today through the destruction of the enemy I will wipe the tears of the one whose son has been killed, whose brother has been killed."

Characters & Entities

Rāvaṇa

ripū (enemy—contextually Rāma’s side)

FAQs

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

It shows a common ethical error: trying to heal grief through further harm. The Ramayana’s dharma framework rejects “compassion” that is built on injustice; satya requires acknowledging one’s role in causing suffering.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa interprets Laṅkā’s mourning as a reason to intensify violence, claiming that killing the enemy will console the bereaved.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The implied virtue is true compassion (dayā) guided by righteousness—seeking restoration through dharma rather than escalating vengeance.