Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 43, Shloka 1

द्वन्द्वयुद्धप्रवृत्तिः

Dvandva-Yuddha: The Onset of Single Combats

Devanagari script

युध्यतांतुततस्तेषांवानराणांमहात्मनाम् ।रक्षसांसम्बभूवाथबलकोपस्सुदारुणः ।।6.43.1।।

Transliteration

yudhyatāṃ tu tatas teṣāṃ vānarāṇāṃ mahātmanām |

rakṣasāṃ sambabhūvātha bala-kopaḥ sudāruṇaḥ ||

Translation

Enquanto aqueles Vānaras de grande alma combatiam, ergueu-se entre os Rākṣasas um ímpeto de ira e furor guerreiro, dos mais terríveis.

Word by Word

• yudhyatām: of those fighting
• yudhyatām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yudh (धातु)
• Form: Śatṛ/śānac-like present participle declined; here Genitive plural (Ṣaṣṭhī Bahuvacana) of present participle ‘yudhyat’ = ‘of those fighting’

• tu: but
• tu: Vākyasambandha
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Adversative particle

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Kāla/krama-dyotaka
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (ततः) ‘then/thereafter’

• teṣām: of those
• teṣām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana

• vānarāṇām: of the Vanaras
• vānarāṇām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana

• mahātmanām: of the great-souled
• mahātmanām: Viśeṣaṇa (genitive qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahātman (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana; bahuvrīhi ‘mahān ātmā yeṣām’ = great-souled

• rakṣasām: of the Rakshasas
• rakṣasām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana

• sambabhūva: arose
• sambabhūva: Kriyā
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु) with sam-
• Form: Liṭ (perfect), Prathama puruṣa, Ekavacana

• atha: then
• atha: Kāla/krama-dyotaka
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; discourse particle (अनन्तर/atha)

• balakopaḥ: fierce rage
• balakopaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala + kopa (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa ‘balasya kopaḥ’ = wrath of strength (fierce rage)

• sudāruṇaḥ: exceedingly dreadful
• sudāruṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su + dāruṇa (प्रातिपदिक; उपसर्ग-समास)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; qualifies balakopaḥ; ‘very dreadful’

Context

Thereafter the gigantic army of Vanaras were fighting with exceedingly terrific Rakshasas and the anguished Rakshasas could not tolerate the sight.

Characters & Entities

• Vānaras
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

It warns of anger’s escalation: unchecked kopa (wrath) intensifies suffering and clouds judgment. Dharmic conduct requires mastery over rage even in conflict.

What is the narrative situation?

With the battle underway, the Rākṣasas react to the Vānara onslaught with heightened fury.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

For the Vānaras: steadfast valor; for the Rākṣasas: a cautionary display of uncontrolled rage.