Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 53, Shloka 15

युद्धकाण्डे त्रिपञ्चाशः सर्गः — धूम्राक्षवधश्रवणं, वज्रदंष्ट्रप्रेषणं, अङ्गद-राक्षसयुद्धम्

Ravana Dispatches Vajradamshtra; Portents and Angada’s Assault

Devanagari script

व्याहरन्तमृगाघोरारक्षसांनिधनंतदा ।समापतन्तोयोधास्तुप्रास्खलन् स्तत्रदारुणम् ।।।।

Transliteration

vyāharan mṛgā ghorā rakṣasāṃ nidhanaṃ tadā |

samāpatanto yodhās tu prāskhalan tatra dāruṇam ||

Translation

Então feras terríveis pareciam proclamar a perdição dos Rākṣasas; e, ao arremeterem, os guerreiros tropeçaram ali—um sinal ominoso e cruel.

Word by Word

• tān: them
• tān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अवधारण-अव्यय (but/indeed)

• niṣkramataḥ: as they were coming out
• niṣkramataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niṣ√kram (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन; 'of those coming out' (qualifying tān)

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव

• vānarāḥ: monkeys/vānaras
• vānarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• jitakāśinaḥ: exultant; confident of victory
• jitakāśinaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jita-kāśin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि: 'whose appearance/brightness is victorious' (i.e., exultant, confident of victory)

• praṇeduḥ: roared/sounded
• praṇeduḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√nad (धातु)
• Form: लिट् लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• sumahānādān: very loud roars
• sumahānādān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su-mahā-nāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय: su + mahā + nāda = 'very great roars'

• pūrayān: filling
• pūrayān: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √pṝ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; 'filling' (agreeing with nādān)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (and)

• diśaḥ: directions
• diśaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन

• daśa: ten
• daśa: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याविशेषण (numeral adjective), द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; 'ten' qualifying diśaḥ

Context

As they were leaving evil portents appeared. Dreadful jackals, dazzling fire from the sky and meteors falling appeared.

Characters & Entities

• Rākṣasas
• Warriors (yodhāḥ)

FAQs

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

Actions opposed to Dharma carry consequences that manifest as warning signs; ignoring them reflects moral blindness and hastens downfall.

What is the narrative situation?

As the Rākṣasa fighters charge, animals cry ominously and the soldiers stumble—signals foreshadowing defeat.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and humility are implied virtues: a righteous force remains attentive to signs and avoids reckless advance.