Shloka 9

युद्धाय रावणस्य निर्याणं तथा उत्पातदर्शनम्

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

Devanagari script

अथोवाचप्रहस्यैतान्रावणःक्रोधमूर्छितः ।महोदरमहापार्श्वौविरूपाक्षं च राक्षसम् ।।6.96.9।।

Transliteration

athovāca prahasya etān rāvaṇaḥ krodhamūrcchitaḥ | mahodara-mahāpārśvau virūpākṣaṃ ca rākṣasam ||6.96.9||

Translation

അപ്പോൾ ക്രോധമൂഢനായ ദശാനനൻ രാവണൻ പരിഹസിച്ചു ചിരിച്ചുകൊണ്ട് ആ രാക്ഷസന്മാരോട് പറഞ്ഞു—മഹോദരാ, മഹാപാർശ്വാ, വിരൂപാക്ഷ രാക്ഷസനേ.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध/प्रकरणसूचक (contextual connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रमसूचक (sequence-marker)

• उवाच: said/spoke
• उवाच: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• प्रहस्य: having laughed
• प्रहस्य: क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial modifier of main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-हस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) अव्यय; ‘having laughed’

• एतान्: these (persons)
• एतान्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन (plural)

• रावणः: Ravana
• रावणः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• क्रोधमूर्छितः: deluded/overcome by anger
• क्रोधमूर्छितः: कर्ता-विशेषण (qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रोध (प्रातिपदिक) + मूर्छित (कृदन्त, मूर्छ् धातोः क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (क्रोधेन मूर्छितः = deluded/faint with anger); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier of रावणः)

• महोदरमहापार्श्वौ: Mahodara and Mahaparsva
• महोदरमहापार्श्वौ: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महोदर (प्रातिपदिक) + महापार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (two names in coordination); पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, द्विवचन (dual)

• विरूपाक्षम्: Virupaksha
• विरूपाक्षम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विरूपाक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• राक्षसम्: the rakshasa (demon)
• राक्षसम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; (apposition to विरूपाक्षम्)

Context

Then Ravana who was deluded with anger, laughing aloud spoke to Mahodara, Mahaparsva and Virupaksha.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Mahodara
• Mahāpārśva
• Virūpākṣa

FAQs

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

It warns against krodha (anger) clouding judgment; leadership driven by rage distorts discernment, a key ethical concern in the epic.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa turns to specific commanders, preparing to issue directions as the battle intensifies.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast (through negation), the verse underscores the virtue of self-control; Rāvaṇa is shown lacking it.