Shloka 18

रावणरथवैभव–निमित्तदर्शन–राममातलिसंवादः

Ravana’s Chariot, Portents, and Rama–Matali Instructions

Devanagari script

शरांश्चसुमहावेगान्सूर्यरश्मिसमप्रभान् ।तदुपोढुंमहद्युद्धमन्योन्यवधकाङ्क्षिणोः ।।।।परस्पराभिमुखयोर्दृप्तयोरिवसिंहयोः ।

Transliteration

śarāṃś ca sumahāvegān sūryaraśmisamaprabhān | tad upoḍhuṃ mahadyuddham anyonyavadhakāṅkṣiṇoḥ || parasparābhimukhayor dṛptayor iva siṃhayoḥ ||

Translation

Anak-anak panah yang amat laju, bercahaya laksana sinar matahari, pun disiapkan tatkala perang besar itu mendekat—dua lawan berhadapan, masing-masing mendambakan kematian yang lain, bagaikan dua singa angkuh bertentang mata.

Word by Word

• śarān: arrows
• śarān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चयः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (conjunction)

• su-mahā-vegān: very swift
• su-mahā-vegān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय) + mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + vega (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya with intensifier; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifying 'śarān'

• sūrya-raśmi-sama-prabhān: radiant like sun-rays
• sūrya-raśmi-sama-prabhān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sūrya (प्रातिपदिक) + raśmi (प्रातिपदिक) + sama (प्रातिपदिक) + prabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (with comparison element 'sama'); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifying 'śarān'

• tad: that
• tad: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); referring to the situation/that (encounter)

• upoḍhum: to bring on/approach
• upoḍhum: Prayojana (प्रयोजनम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√vah (वह् धातु) + tumun (तुमुन्)
• Form: Kridanta infinitive (tumunanta); in sense 'to bring on/undergo/approach'

• mahat: great
• mahat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adjective; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying 'yuddham'

• yuddham: battle
• yuddham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• anyonya-vadha-kāṅkṣiṇoḥ: of the two who desired to kill each other
• anyonya-vadha-kāṅkṣiṇoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anyonya (प्रातिपदिक) + vadha (प्रातिपदिक) + kāṅkṣin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Genitive (षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन); masculine; 'of the two desiring each other’s killing'

• paraspara-abhimukhayoḥ: of the two facing each other
• paraspara-abhimukhayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paraspara (प्रातिपदिक) + abhimukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Genitive (षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन); masculine; qualifying the same pair

• dṛptayoḥ: of the two proud/fierce
• dṛptayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dṛpta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adjective; Genitive (षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन); masculine; 'of the two proud/fierce'

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (simile particle)

• siṃhayoḥ: of two lions
• siṃhayoḥ: Upamāna (उपमानम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siṃha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन)

Context

Devas rained blood on Ravana's chariot, wind blew in circles intensely from left to right.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Rāvaṇa
• arrows

FAQs

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

Dharma in war demands clarity of aim and accountability: even in lethal conflict, the epic frames battle as a grave, purposeful act—not mere rage.

What is the narrative situation?

The decisive duel is about to begin; both sides stand face-to-face with weapons poised.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage and resolve are foregrounded; the verse also warns that pride (darpa) can accompany combat and must be governed by Dharma.