Shloka 7

राघव-रावणयोः घोर-द्वैरथ-युद्धम्

The Fierce Chariot-Duel of Rama and Ravana

Devanagari script

जेतव्यमितिकाकुत्स्थोमर्तव्यमितिरावणः ।धृतौस्ववीर्यसर्वस्वंयुद्धेऽदर्शयतांतदा ।।6.109.7।।

Transliteration

jetavyam iti kākutstho martavyam iti rāvaṇaḥ | dhṛtau sva-vīrya-sarvasvaṁ yuddhe ’darśayatāṁ tadā ||6.109.7||

Translation

Então o constante Kākutstha, decidido: «Devo vencer», e Rāvaṇa, decidido: «Devo morrer», exibiram na batalha toda a medida do seu valor.

Word by Word

• जेतव्यम्: must be won
• जेतव्यम्: Bhava (भाव)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/future passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; ‘must be conquered / victory must be won’

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• काकुत्स्थः: Kakutstha (Rama)
• काकुत्स्थः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काकुत्स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• मर्तव्यम्: must die
• मर्तव्यम्: Bhava (भाव)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मृ (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; ‘must be died / must die’

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय

• रावणः: Ravana
• रावणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• धृतौ: both determined
• धृतौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृत (धृ धातोः क्त/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; विशेषणम् (काकुत्स्थः, रावणः) — ‘steadfast/determined’

• स्व-वीर्य-सर्वस्वम्: their entire prowess
• स्व-वीर्य-सर्वस्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सर्वस्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd), एकवचन; समासः बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (‘स्वस्य वीर्यस्य सर्वस्वम्’ = the whole of one’s prowess)

• युद्धे: in battle
• युद्धे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/7th), एकवचन

• अदर्शयताम्: they two displayed
• अदर्शयताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत/Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन; परस्मैपदम्; causative sense ‘made (it) seen/showed’ (दर्शयति)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

Context

Kakuthsa Rama, sure of his victory and Ravana thinking surely of his death, exhibited their prowess totally in the battle, with determination.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Kākutstha)
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Satya and dharma appear as inner commitment: Rāma stands for righteous victory (restoring moral order), while Rāvaṇa’s stance reflects the grim consequence of adharma—death faced as the end of a chosen path.

What is the narrative situation?

At the height of the duel, both reveal their settled inner convictions and fight with total exertion.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Niścaya (unshakeable resolve) and vīrya (complete martial prowess).