Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 41, Shloka 98

युद्धलक्षण-निमित्तदर्शनं तथा लङ्काद्वारव्यूहः

War Omens and the Encirclement of Lanka’s Gates

Devanagari script

तेषामक्षौहिणिशतंसमवेक्ष्यवनौकसाम् ।लङ्कामुपनिविष्टानांसागरंचानिवर्तताम् ।।6.41.97।।राक्षसाविस्मयंजग्मुस्त्रासंजग्मुस्तथापरे ।अपरेसमरोध्धर्षाद्धर्षमेवप्रपेदिरे ।।6.41.98।।

Transliteration

rākṣasā vismayaṃ jagmus trāsaṃ jagmus tathāpare | apare samaroddharṣād dharṣam eva prapedire || 6.41.98 ||

Translation

Para raksasa itu terperanjat kehairanan; sebahagian lagi dilanda ketakutan; dan yang lain, kerana ghairah menyongsong pertempuran, meluap dalam semangat yang membara.

Word by Word

• kṛtsnam: entire
• kṛtsnam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛtsna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; agrees with prākāraparikhāntaram

• hi: indeed, for
• hi: Avyaya (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), causal/emphatic

• kapibhiḥ: by monkeys
• kapibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• vyāptam: pervaded, filled
• vyāptam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi√āp (धातु) → vyāpta (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Past participle (क्त) used predicatively; Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; agrees with prākāraparikhāntaram

• prākāra-parikhā-antaraम्: the area between rampart and moat
• prākāra-parikhā-antaraम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prākāra (प्रातिपदिक) + parikhā (प्रातिपदिक) + antara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: 'the space within wall and moat'; Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• dadṛśuḥ: saw
• dadṛśuḥ: Kriyā (मुख्य-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, perfect), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Bahuvacana, Parasmaipada

• rākṣasa-dīnāḥ: the wretched rākṣasas
• rākṣasa-dīnāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक) + dīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: 'rākṣasas who are wretched'; Masculine, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; subject of dadṛśuḥ

• prākāram: the rampart
• prākāram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prākāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• nānarīkṛtam: turned into/filled with monkeys
• nānarīkṛtam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nānara (प्रातिपदिक) + √kṛ (धातु) → kṛta (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Denominative/causative sense 'made into monkeys' (nānara-kṛta); past participle (क्त), Masculine, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; agrees with prākāram

• hāhākāram: a cry of lament
• hāhākāram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hāhākāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• prakurvanti: make, raise
• prakurvanti: Kriyā (मुख्य-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Bahuvacana, Parasmaipada

• rākṣasāḥ: the rākṣasas
• rākṣasāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• bhaya-mohitāḥ: bewildered by fear
• bhaya-mohitāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhaya (प्रातिपदिक) + mohita (कृदन्त, क्त from √muh)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: 'deluded by fear'; mohita (क्त), Masculine, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; agrees with rākṣasāḥ

Context

Seeing the large army of a hundred Akshauhinis of monkeys staying near Lanka spreading beyond the sea waiting for war the Rakshasas were wonder struck, some feared, some were alarmed to witness the jubilant Vanaras who exhibited joy alone.

Characters & Entities

• rākṣasas

FAQs

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

When dharma confronts adharma, inner states get exposed: fear, confusion, or reckless thrill. Ethical clarity steadies the mind; moral disorder fragments it.

What is the narrative situation?

The rākṣasas’ mixed reactions to the scale and firmness of the vānaras are described—astonishment, fear, and battle-lust.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Implicitly, mental steadiness (sthiti) is valued; uncontrolled excitement or panic is shown as spiritually and strategically weakening.