Shloka 42

युद्धाय रावणस्य निर्याणं तथा उत्पातदर्शनम्

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

Devanagari script

विकृत्तशिरसःकेचिद्रावणेनवलीमुखाः ।केचिद्विच्छिन्नहृदयाःकेचिच्छ्रोत्रविवर्जिताः ।।6.96.42।।

Transliteration

vikṛtta-śirasaḥ kecid rāvaṇena valīmukhāḥ |

kecid vicchinna-hṛdayāḥ kecic chrotra-vivarjitāḥ ||6.96.42||

Translation

രാവണൻ ചില വാനരന്മാരുടെ തലകൾ വികൃതമായി വെട്ടിമുറിച്ചു; ചിലരുടെ ഹൃദയം തുളച്ചുകയറി; ചിലർ ചെവികളില്ലാത്തവരായി ശേഷിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• विकृत्तशिरसः: with heads cut off
• विकृत्तशिरसः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-√कृत् + शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (विकृत्तं शिरः येषाम्); भूतकृदन्त (क्त) + नाम; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (valīmukhāḥ)

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; प्रथमा, बहुवचन (some)

• रावणेन: by Ravana
• रावणेन: कर्ता (Kartā/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण/कर्तृ (agent in passive sense)

• वलीमुखाः: monkey-faced (Vanaras)
• वलीमुखाः: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वलीमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय समास (वली इव मुखं येषाम्/वलीयुक्तमुखाः); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• विच्छिन्नहृदयाः: with hearts torn/pierced
• विच्छिन्नहृदयाः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-√छिद् + हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (विच्छिन्नं हृदयम् येषाम्); भूतकृदन्त (क्त); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (valīmukhāḥ)

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• श्रोत्रविवर्जिताः: deprived of ears
• श्रोत्रविवर्जिताः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रोत्र-विवर्जित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (श्रोत्रेण विवर्जिताः/श्रोत्रं विवर्जितं येषाम्); भूतकृदन्त (क्त); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (valīmukhāḥ)

Context

Some Vanaras ' heads were deformed, some were pierced in their hearts, and some had their ears cut off.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

The verse foregrounds the human (and here, vānaras’) cost of adharma-driven war. Dharma is not abstract; it is measured by the suffering unleashed when violence is pursued without righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

A graphic account of casualties among the vānaras caused by Rāvaṇa’s assault.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Endurance and sacrifice on the side resisting adharma are implied: the vānaras continue despite grievous injuries.