Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 108, Shloka 16

रावणरथवैभव–निमित्तदर्शन–राममातलिसंवादः

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

Devanagari script

ततःक्रुद्धोदशग्रीवस्ताम्रविस्फारितेक्षणः ।रथप्रतिमुखंरामंसायकैरवधूनयत् ।।।।

Transliteration

tataḥ kruddho daśagrīvas tāmravisphāritekṣaṇaḥ |

rathapratimukhaṃ rāmaṃ sāyakair avadhūnayat ||6.108.16||

Translation

ତତଃ କ୍ରୋଧିତ ଦଶଗ୍ରୀବ, ତାମ୍ରବର୍ଣ୍ଣରେ ବିସ୍ତାରିତ ନୟନ ସହ, ରଥମୁଖରେ ସମ୍ମୁଖୀନ ରାମଙ୍କୁ ସାୟକବର୍ଷାରେ ଆଘାତ କରି କମ୍ପିତ କଲା।

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya: 'then'

• kruddhaḥ: angry
• kruddhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √krudh (क्रुध् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kridanta past participle (kta); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying 'daśagrīvaḥ'

• daśagrīvaḥ: Ten-necked (Ravana)
• daśagrīvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa (प्रातिपदिक) + grīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi compound; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); epithet of Ravana: 'one who has ten necks/heads'

• tāmra-visphārita-īkṣaṇaḥ: with coppery wide-open eyes
• tāmra-visphārita-īkṣaṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tāmra (प्रातिपदिक) + visphārita (कृदन्त: vi-√sphar + kta) + īkṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi compound; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); 'whose eyes are coppery and wide-open'

• ratha-pratimukham: head-on/towards the chariot-front
• ratha-pratimukham: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक) + pratimukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva compound used adverbially; Accusative-form adverb: 'towards the front of the chariot / head-on'

• rāmam: Rama
• rāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• sāyakaiḥ: with arrows
• sāyakaiḥ: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• avadhūnayat: shook/struck
• avadhūnayat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-√dhū (धू धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (imperfect/past), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

Context

Then furious Ravana, the ten headed Rakshasa, whose eyes turned coppery in anger, struck Rama with arrows.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa (Daśagrīva)
• Rāma
• Arrows (Sāyaka)

FAQs

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

Unchecked krodha (anger) leads toward adharma: Rāvaṇa’s rage-driven strike contrasts with the disciplined, purpose-bound violence expected in a dharmic battle.

What is the narrative situation?

Provoked by Mātali’s maneuver, Rāvaṇa lashes out and attacks Rāma with arrows in direct chariot confrontation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s steadfastness under assault: he meets the enemy head-on, embodying courage anchored in Dharma rather than fury.