Shloka 22

युद्धकाण्डे त्रिपञ्चाशः सर्गः — धूम्राक्षवधश्रवणं, वज्रदंष्ट्रप्रेषणं, अङ्गद-राक्षसयुद्धम्

Ravana Dispatches Vajradamshtra; Portents and Angada’s Assault

Devanagari script

रथनेमिस्वनस्तत्रधनुषश्चापिनिस्वसत् ।।।।शङ्खभेरीमृदङ्गानांबभूवतुमुलःस्वनः ।

Transliteration

rathanemisvanas tatra dhanuṣaś cāpi nisvasat |

śaṅkhabherīmṛdaṅgānāṃ babhūva tumulaḥ svanaḥ ||

Translation

Lalu bangkitlah deru hiruk-pikuk: gemeretak roda kereta perang, denting dan desis busur, serta tiupan sangkakala dan paluan gendang bheri serta mṛdaṅga yang menggelegar.

Word by Word

• रथनेमिस्वनः: the sound of chariot-rims
• रथनेमिस्वनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक) + nemi (प्रातिपदिक) + svana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध: ‘रथनेमेः स्वनः’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masc nom sg)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (there)

• धनुषः: of the bow/bows
• धनुषः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (neuter gen sg)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थ (also)

• निस्वसत्: resounding
• निस्वसत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni√svas (धातु) + śatṛ (कृत्)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणवत् प्रयोगः (resounding/issuing a sound)

• शङ्खभेरीमृदङ्गानाम्: of conches, kettle-drums, and drums
• शङ्खभेरीमृदङ्गानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṅkha (प्रातिपदिक) + bherī (प्रातिपदिक) + mṛdaṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (समाहार/इतरेतर); षष्ठी, बहुवचन (gen pl)

• बभूव: arose/was
• बभूव: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (became/was)

• तुमुलः: tumultuous
• तुमुलः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tumula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (masc nom sg; qualifying ‘स्वनः’)

• स्वनः: sound
• स्वनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masc nom sg)

Context

Then came out tumultuous sounds of clutter of chariots, bows, conches, kettle drums and tom toms.

FAQs

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

The organized signals of war (conches, drums) contrast with its chaos, implying that dharma attempts to regulate even violence—yet the tumult shows how easily conflict overwhelms order.

What is the narrative situation?

The soundscape of the battle is described as chariots, bows, and war-instruments resound together.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Collective discipline and readiness (sainika-sajjā), though the verse primarily paints atmosphere rather than praising an individual.