Shloka 20

युद्धाय रावणस्य निर्याणं तथा उत्पातदर्शनम्

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

Devanagari script

अद्यगोमयवोगृध्राश्चये च मांसाशिनोऽपरे ।सर्वांस्तांस्तर्पयिष्यामिशत्रुमांसैश्शरार्दितैः ।।6.96.20।।

Transliteration

adya gomāyavo gṛdhrāś ca ye ca māṁśāśino ’pare |

sarvāṁs tāṁs tarpayiṣyāmi śatru-māṁsaiḥ śarārditaiḥ ||6.96.20||

Translation

ഇന്ന് കുറുക്കന്മാരെയും (ഗോമായു), കഴുകന്മാരെയും, മറ്റു മാംസഭോജികളെയുമെല്ലാം—എന്റെ അമ്പുകൾ കൊണ്ട് കീറിത്തെറിച്ച ശത്രുക്കളുടെ മാംസത്തോടെ ഞാൻ തൃപ്തിപ്പെടുത്തും.

Word by Word

• अद्य: today
• अद्य: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय

• गोमायवः: jackals
• गोमायवः: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gomāyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम् (nominative plural)

• गृध्राः: vultures
• गृध्राः: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛdhra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• ये: who/which
• ये: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम् (relative pronoun)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• मांसाशिनः: flesh-eaters
• मांसाशिनः: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māṃsa (प्रातिपदिक) + āśin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; (मांसम् अश्नन्ति इति)

• अपरे: others
• अपरे: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifying तान्)

• तान्: them
• तान्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया बहुवचनम् (accusative plural)

• तर्पयिष्यामि: I will satisfy / feed
• तर्पयिष्यामि: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tṛp (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (भविष्यत्) उत्तमपुरुषः एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्; णिच् (causative) भावः—तर्पयति

• शत्रु-मांसैः: with the enemies' flesh
• शत्रु-मांसैः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śatru (प्रातिपदिक) + māṃsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम् (instrumental plural)

• शर-आर्दितैः: wounded by arrows
• शर-आर्दितैः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक) + ārdita (कृदन्त; √ard/ardh 'to hurt')
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifying मांसैः)

Context

"Today I shall provide for whatever animals, eagles or flesh-eating animals the flesh of enemies killed by my arrows."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Gomāyu (jackals)
• Gṛdhra (vultures)
• Enemies (Vānara forces implied)

FAQs

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

The verse illustrates moral degradation: delight in carnage violates Dharma’s demand for dignity even toward foes; righteous war is bound by limits, not relish in slaughter.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa boasts that the battlefield will provide carrion for scavengers because of the destruction he intends to cause.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Negatively, it highlights the absence of compassion and sobriety; the Ramayana’s ethical frame values restraint and respect for life.