Shloka 1

Devanagari script

ततःप्रवृत्तंसुक्रूरंरामरावणयोस्तदा ।सुमहदद्वैरथंयुद्धंसर्वलोकभयावहम् ।।6.109.1।।

Transliteration

tataḥ pravṛttaṃ sukrūraṃ rāmarāvaṇayos tadā | sumahad dvairathaṃ yuddhaṃ sarvalokabhayāvaham ||

Translation

ତତ୍କ୍ଷଣେ ରାମ ଓ ରାବଣଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ କ୍ରୂର ଓ ବିଶାଳ ରଥଦ୍ୱନ୍ଦ୍ୱ ଯୁଦ୍ଧ ପ୍ରବୃତ୍ତ ହେଲା; ଯାହା ସମସ୍ତ ଲୋକକୁ ଭୟାକୁଳ କରୁଥିଲା।

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• प्रवृत्तम्: arose/ensued
• प्रवृत्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रवृत्त (कृदन्त; प्र+√वृत् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा (Nom.1), एकवचन (Sg.); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; विधेय-विशेषण (of युद्धम्)

• सुक्रूरम्: very fierce
• सुक्रूरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-क्रूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा (Nom.1), एकवचन (Sg.); विशेषण (of युद्धम्)

• रामरावणयोः: of Rama and Ravana
• रामरावणयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम-रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी/सप्तमी-द्विवचन (Gen./Loc. 6/7 Dual); द्वन्द्व-समास; here: षष्ठी (Gen.) 'of Rama and Ravana'

• तदा: at that time
• तदा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• सुमहत्: very great
• सुमहत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा (Nom.1), एकवचन (Sg.); विशेषण (of युद्धम्)

• द्वैरथम्: a chariot-duel
• द्वैरथम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि-रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा (Nom.1), एकवचन (Sg.); द्विगु-समास (two-chariot; duel)

• युद्धम्: battle
• युद्धम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा (Nom.1), एकवचन (Sg.)

• सर्वलोकभयावहम्: bringing fear to all worlds
• सर्वलोकभयावहम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-लोक-भय-आवह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा (Nom.1), एकवचन (Sg.); बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (sarvalokānāṃ bhayaṃ āvahati iti)

Context

Then there ensued a fierce duel between Rama and Ravana that was fearsome to the whole world.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

The epic frames the duel as world-affecting: leaders’ choices carry universal consequences, so dharma in leadership and warfare is never merely personal.

What is the narrative situation?

A new phase of combat is announced: the climactic chariot-duel intensifies between the two principals.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Responsibility—this battle is portrayed as undertaken with awareness of its impact on the world’s order.