Shloka 1

रामरावणयोर्युद्धवैषम्यं तथा रावणशिरश्छेदनम्

Rama–Ravana Duel Intensifies; Ravana’s Heads Severed and Reappear

Devanagari script

तौतथायुध्यमानौतुसमरेरामरावणौ ।ददृशुस्सर्वभूतानिविस्मितेनान्तरात्मना ।।।।

Transliteration

tau tathā yudhyamānau tu samare rāmarāvaṇau |

dadṛśuḥ sarvabhūtāni vismitenāntarātmanā ||

Translation

Enquanto Rāma e Rāvaṇa assim combatiam no campo de batalha, todos os seres os contemplaram, maravilhados no íntimo do coração.

Word by Word

• अर्धयन्तौ: pressing/overpowering
• अर्धयन्तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ardh (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Nominative, Dual, Masculine; ‘pressing/overpowering’

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• समरे: in battle
• समरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• तयोः: of the two
• तयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Genitive (6th), Dual

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• स्यन्दनोत्तमौ: the two excellent chariots
• स्यन्दनोत्तमौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: syandana + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (‘excellent chariots’), Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• परस्परम्: one another
• परस्परम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paraspara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Reciprocal, Neuter, Accusative, Singular; used adverbially

• अभिक्रुद्धौ: enraged at each other
• अभिक्रुद्धौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi + kruddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adjectival use, Masculine, Nominative, Dual; qualifies ‘तौ’

• परस्परम्: one another
• परस्परम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paraspara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Reciprocal, Neuter, Accusative, Singular; used adverbially

• अभिद्रुतौ: rushing at each other
• अभिद्रुतौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi + dru (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle used adjectivally (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Dual; ‘having rushed at’

Context

As Rama and Ravana were thus fighting in war, all beings watched with astonishment in mind.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Rāvaṇa
• all beings (sarvabhūtāni)
• battle (samara)

FAQs

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

Dharma is portrayed as publicly and cosmically accountable: the duel is not private vengeance but an event witnessed by all beings, underscoring moral consequence and the triumph-of-dharma frame.

What is the narrative situation?

The climactic duel between Rāma and Rāvaṇa is underway, and the universe looks on in amazement.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Heroic steadfastness (vīrya/dhṛti) in a decisive confrontation.