Shloka 4

युद्धाय रावणस्य निर्याणं तथा उत्पातदर्शनम्

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

Devanagari script

उवाच च समीपस्थान्राक्षसान्राक्षसेश्वरः ।क्रोधाव्यक्तकथस्तत्रनिर्दहन्निवचक्षुषा ।।6.96.4।।महोदरंमहापार्श्वंविरूपाक्षं च राक्षसम् ।शीघ्रंवदतसैन्यानिनिर्यातेतिममाज्ञया ।।6.96.5।।

Transliteration

uvāca ca samīpasthān rākṣasān rākṣaseśvaraḥ |

krodhāvyakta-kathaḥ tatra nirdahann iva cakṣuṣā ||6.96.4||

mahodaraṁ mahāpārśvaṁ virūpākṣaṁ ca rākṣasam |

śīghraṁ vadata sainyāni niryāteti mamājñayā ||6.96.5||

Translation

അപ്പോൾ സമീപത്തു നിന്നിരുന്ന രാക്ഷസന്മാരോട് രാക്ഷസാധിപൻ രാവണൻ സംസാരിച്ചു; ക്രോധം മൂലം വാക്കുകൾ മുട്ടിപ്പോയിരുന്നു, കണ്ണുകൾ തീപൊള്ളുന്നതുപോലെ ജ്വലിച്ചു. അവൻ മഹോദരനോടും മഹാപാർശ്വനോടും രാക്ഷസൻ വിരൂപാക്ഷനോടും പറഞ്ഞു: “വേഗം സൈന്യങ്ങളെ പുറപ്പെടാൻ കല്പിക്കൂ—ഇത് എന്റെ ആജ്ഞയാണ്.”

Word by Word

उवाचsaid/spoke

चand

समीपस्थान्those standing nearby

राक्षसान्rākṣasas

राक्षसेश्वरःlord of the rākṣasas

क्रोधाव्यक्तकथःwith indistinct speech from anger

तत्रthere

निर्दहन्burning

इवas if

चक्षुषाwith (his) eyes

Context

Thus spoke the Lord of Rakshasas indistinctly in anger with his eyes burning as though it would consume them (Rakshasas). He commanded Mahodara, Mahaparsva and Virupaksha who stood nearby saying" quickly instruct the army to go."

Characters & Entities

Rāvaṇa

Mahodara

Mahāpārśva

Virūpākṣa

rākṣasa army

FAQs

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

The verse warns that leadership driven by anger distorts judgment and speech. Dharma-based leadership requires calm discernment; wrath-based command leads communities into harm.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa, enraged, issues urgent orders to his commanders to deploy the rākṣasa forces and march out to the battlefield.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By negative example, self-control (dama) is highlighted: Rāvaṇa’s lack of restraint becomes a moral marker of adharma in command.