Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 69, Shloka 16

त्रिशिरा-प्रबोधनम् तथा नरान्तक-वधः

Trisira’s Counsel and the Slaying of Naranthaka

Devanagari script

युद्धोन्मत्तं च मत्तं च भ्रातरौचापिरावणः ।रक्षणार्थंकुमाराणांप्रेषयामाससंयुगे ।।।।

Transliteration

yuddhonmattaṃ ca mattaṃ ca bhrātarau cāpi rāvaṇaḥ | rakṣaṇārthaṃ kumārāṇāṃ preṣayāmāsa saṃyuge || 6.69.16 ||

Translation

இளவரசர்களைக் காக்கும் பொருட்டு ராவணன் தன் இரு சகோதரர்களான யுத்தோன்மத்தன் மற்றும் மத்தன் ஆகியோரையும் போர்க்களத்திற்கு அனுப்பினான்.

Word by Word

• युद्धोन्मत्तम्: (one named) Yuddhonmatta
• युद्धोन्मत्तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध + उन्मत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी/सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष (sense: ‘in battle’ → ‘battle-maddened’ as name)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• मत्तम्: (one named) Matta
• मत्तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; (proper name)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• भ्रातरौ: two brothers
• भ्रातरौ: कर्म (Karma/Object; apposition to the two names)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), द्विवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; ‘also/even’)

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

• रक्षणार्थम्: for protection
• रक्षणार्थम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षण + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थक-अव्ययीभावार्थ (sense: ‘for the purpose of protection’)

• कुमाराणाम्: of the princes/sons
• कुमाराणाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• प्रेषयामास: sent
• प्रेषयामास: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+√इष्/√प्रेष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• संयुगे: in combat
• संयुगे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संयुग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

Context

Ravana sent his two brothers Yuddhonmatta and Matta for the protection of his sons for defence in combat.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Yuddhonmatta
• Matta

FAQs

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

Protection of dependents is a duty; yet dharma also asks whether the larger mission is just—guardianship should not serve adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa assigns additional protection—his brothers—to accompany and defend his sons in combat.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Strategic responsibility and protective intent within the family/kingdom structure.