Shloka 24

रावणशूलप्रक्षेपः

Ravana Hurls the Trident; Rama Counters with Indra’s Javelin

Devanagari script

निर्ददाह स तान्बाणान्रामकार्मुकनिःसृतान् ।रावणस्यमहान् शूलःपतङ्गानिवपावकः ।।।।

Transliteration

nirdadāha sa tān bāṇān rāma-kārmuka-niḥsṛtān | rāvaṇasya mahān śūlaḥ pataṅgān iva pāvakaḥ ||

Translation

Namun trisula agung Rāvaṇa membakar habis anak-anak panah yang dilepaskan dari busur Rama, bagaikan api menelan rama-rama malam.

Word by Word

• nirdadāha: burnt up
• nirdadāha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir-√dah (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tān: those
• tān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण, पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• bāṇān: arrows
• bāṇān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• rāma-kārmuka-niḥsṛtān: shot forth from Rama's bow
• rāma-kārmuka-niḥsṛtān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक) + kārmuka (प्रातिपदिक) + niḥ-√sṛ (धातु)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (रामस्य कार्मुकात् निःसृताः), भूतकाले क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; बाणान् विशेषयति

• rāvaṇasya: of Rāvaṇa
• rāvaṇasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन (genitive/possessive)

• mahān: great
• mahān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; शूलः विशेषयति

• śūlaḥ: trident/spear
• śūlaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• pataṅgān: moths
• pataṅgān: Upameya (उपमेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pataṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (उपमा-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक अव्यय

• pāvakaḥ: fire
• pāvakaḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāvaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

The arrows released from Rama's bow fell on the great trident of Ravana and burnt like moths falling in fire.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Rāma
• śūla (trident)
• kārmuka (bow)
• bāṇa (arrows)

FAQs

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

The verse warns against judging by immediate outcomes: dharma is not disproved by temporary setbacks. Righteous effort may face overpowering resistance, yet perseverance aligned with satya remains the epic’s guiding standard.

What is the narrative situation?

The trident’s power destroys Rāma’s arrows mid-air, showing the weapon’s extraordinary force.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s perseverance is implied: even when conventional measures fail, he must maintain resolve and choose an appropriate counter.