Shloka 5

रामरावणयोर्युद्धवैषम्यं तथा रावणशिरश्छेदनम्

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

Devanagari script

क्षिपतोश्शरजालानितयोस्तौस्यन्दनोत्तमौ ।।।।चेरतुस्सम्युगमहीं सासारौ जलदाविव ।

Transliteration

kṣipatoḥ śarajālāni tayos tau syandanottamau | ceratuḥ saṃyugamahīṃ sāsārau jaladāv iva ||

Translation

Enquanto ambos lançavam densas malhas de flechas, aqueles dois magníficos carros percorriam o campo de batalha como duas nuvens de chuva a derramar suas correntes.

Word by Word

• kṣipatoḥ: of the two hurling
• kṣipatoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṣip (धातु)
• Form: Śatṛ-pratyaya present active participle (वर्तमानकाले शतृ), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन); ‘of the two who are hurling’

• śara-jālāni: nets/volleys of arrows
• śara-jālāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक) + jāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘net of arrows’); Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tayoḥ: of those two
• tayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन)

• tau: those two
• tau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन)

• syandana-uttamau: the two excellent chariots
• syandana-uttamau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: syandana (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (‘excellent chariots’); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन)

• ceratuḥ: moved/roamed
• ceratuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: car (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Dual (द्विवचन)

• saṃyuga-mahīm: the battlefield
• saṃyuga-mahīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃyuga (प्रातिपदिक) + mahī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (कर्मधारय/षष्ठीभाव: ‘battlefield-earth’ = battlefield); Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• sāsārau: streaming/rushing
• sāsārau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-sāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adjective ‘with flow/streaming’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन) (agreeing with syandanottamau)

• jaladau: two clouds
• jaladau: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jalada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन)

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle of comparison (उपमा-अव्यय)

Context

Ravana hurting Rama and vice versa displaying quickness in retaliation and speed of arrows, the fight happened.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Rāvaṇa
• battlefield (saṃyuga)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights restraint through form: even destructive power is depicted as ordered and comparable to nature’s forces, suggesting war’s gravity must be approached with sobriety, not cruelty.

What is the narrative situation?

Both combatants unleash continuous volleys of arrows while maneuvering their chariots across the battlefield.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kauśala (martial skill)—the ability to sustain coordinated offense while controlling movement in battle.