Shloka 3

Devanagari script

सन्दश्यदशनैरोष्ठंक्रोधसम्रक्तलोचनः ।राक्षसैरपिदुर्दर्शःकालाग्निरिवमूर्छितः ।।6.96.3।।

Transliteration

sandaśya daśanair oṣṭhaṃ krodha-saṃrakta-locanaḥ |

rākṣasair api durdarśaḥ kālāgnir iva mūrchitaḥ ||6.96.3||

Translation

പല്ലുകൾക്കിടയിൽ അധരം ഞെരിച്ച്, ക്രോധത്തിൽ ചുവന്ന കണ്ണുകളോടെ രാവണൻ രാക്ഷസർക്കുപോലും ദുർദർശനായി—ജ്വലിച്ചുയരുന്ന കാലാഗ്നിപോലെ തോന്നി.

Word by Word

• सन्दश्य: having bitten/pressed
• सन्दश्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+√दंश् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—ल्यप् (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having bitten/pressed)

• दशनैः: with (his) teeth
• दशनैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; करणम् (with teeth)

• ओष्ठम्: lip
• ओष्ठम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ओष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म

• क्रोधसम्रक्तलोचनः: with eyes reddened by anger
• क्रोधसम्रक्तलोचनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रोध-सम्रक्त-लोचन (प्रातिपदिक; क्रोध + सम्रक्त<√रञ्ज् + लोचन)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (क्रोधेन सम्रक्ते लोचने यस्य = whose eyes are reddened by anger)

• राक्षसैः: by the rākṣasas
• राक्षसैः: Agent/Experiencer (कर्ता-संबन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (दुर्दर्शः इत्यत्र ‘even by the rākṣasas’)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Emphasis particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अप्यर्थे (even/also)

• दुर्दर्शः: hard to look at
• दुर्दर्शः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्दर्श (प्रातिपदिक; दुर् + दर्श)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (difficult to look at)

• कालाग्निः: the fire of doom
• कालाग्निः: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल-अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (कालस्य अग्निः = fire of doom)

• इव: like
• इव: Upamana-marker (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमार्थक

• मूर्छितः: overpowered
• मूर्छितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √मूर्छ् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; रावणस्य विशेषणम् (overpowered/infuriated)

Context

Then Ravana surrounded by many Rakshasas set out swiftly rending the earth with all his might and majesty.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Rākṣasas
• Kālāgni (fire of cosmic dissolution)

FAQs

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

Uncontrolled krodha (anger) deforms judgment and makes a person fearsome even to allies; Dharma requires inner restraint so power does not become destructive.

What is the narrative situation?

Before Rāvaṇa goes out to fight, the poem depicts his rage and the terror it generates, setting the tone for the coming confrontation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast (through negation), the verse highlights the virtue of self-control (dama/saṃyama) as essential to righteous conduct.