Shloka 16

युद्धलक्षण-निमित्तदर्शनं तथा लङ्काद्वारव्यूहः

War Omens and the Encirclement of Lanka’s Gates

Devanagari script

आदित्यमभिवाश्यन्तिजनयन्तोमहद्भयम् ।दीनादीनस्वराःघोरानप्रशस्तामृगद्विजाः ।।6.41.16।।

Transliteration

ādityam abhivāśyanti janayanto mahad-bhayam |

dīnā dīna-svarāḥ ghorā apraśastā mṛga-dvijāḥ ||6.41.16||

Translation

ଆଦିତ୍ୟଙ୍କ ସମ୍ମୁଖେ ଅପ୍ରଶସ୍ତ ମୃଗ ଓ ଦ୍ୱିଜ (ପକ୍ଷୀ)ମାନେ ଘୋର, ଦୀନ ସ୍ୱରରେ ଚିତ୍କାର କରୁଛନ୍ତି—ମହାଭୟ ଜନ୍ମାଉଛନ୍ତି।

Word by Word

• ādityam: the sun
• ādityam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āditya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• abhivāśyanti: cry at/howl at
• abhivāśyanti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-vāś (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (present), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Plural

• janayantaḥ: producing
• janayantaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jan (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative, Plural; agrees with ‘mṛga-dvijāḥ’

• mahat: great
• mahat: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; adjective of ‘bhayam’

• bhayam: fear
• bhayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• dīnāḥ: wretched
• dīnāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; adjective of ‘mṛga-dvijāḥ’

• dīna-svarāḥ: having pitiful voices
• dīna-svarāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīna (प्रातिपदिक) + svara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa ‘dīnaḥ svaraḥ yeṣām’; Masculine, Nominative, Plural; adjective of ‘mṛga-dvijāḥ’

• ghorāḥ: dreadful
• ghorāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; adjective of ‘mṛga-dvijāḥ’

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; negation particle (निषेध)

• praśastāḥ: auspicious
• praśastāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: praśasta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; adjective of ‘mṛga-dvijāḥ’

• mṛga-dvijāḥ: beasts and birds
• mṛga-dvijāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛga (प्रातिपदिक) + dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva (द्वन्द्व) ‘mṛgāś ca dvijāś ca’; Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Context

"The twilight appears like red sander trees, the burning fire falling from the sun is like a mass of fire and frightening."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Āditya (sun)
• mṛga (beasts)
• dvija (birds)

FAQs

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

Dharma calls for steadiness when fear spreads: recognizing panic-inducing signs, a leader must remain truthful yet stabilizing, guiding others toward right action.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma notes ominous animal and bird behavior as further confirmation that a dangerous turning point has arrived.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage with clarity—acknowledging fear without being ruled by it.