Valmiki Ramayana 6.23.12 — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 23, Shloka 12

निमित्तदर्शनम्

Portents Before the March to Laṅkā

Devanagari script

शैलैश्शूलैश्चखढगैश्चविसृष्टैःकपिराक्षसैः ।भविष्यत्यावृताभूमिर्मांसशोणितकर्दमा ।।6.23.12।।

Transliteration

śailaiḥ śūlaiś ca khaḍgaiś ca visṛṣṭaiḥ kapirākṣasaiḥ | bhaviṣyaty āvṛtā bhūmir māṁsaśoṇitakardamā ||

Translation

వానరులు, రాక్షసులు విసిరిన శైలాలు, శూలాలు, ఖడ్గాలతో భూమి కప్పబడుతుంది; మాంస-శోణితాల కర్దమంగా మారుతుంది।

Word by Word

• शैलैः: with rocks/mountains
• शैलैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• शूलैः: with tridents/spears
• शूलैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

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

• खड्गैः: with swords
• खड्गैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खड्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

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

• विसृष्टैः: hurled/released
• विसृष्टैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-√सृज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (शैलैः शूलैः खड्गैः)

• कपिराक्षसैः: by monkeys and rakshasas
• कपिराक्षसैः: Kartr (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपि + राक्षस (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः

• भविष्यति: will become
• भविष्यति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (भविष्यत्काल/future), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• आवृता: covered
• आवृता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-√वृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (भूमिः)

• भूमिः: the earth
• भूमिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• मांसशोणितकर्दमा: muddy with flesh and blood
• मांसशोणितकर्दमा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मांस-शोणित-कर्दम (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (मांसशोणितेन कर्दमा) विशेषणम् (भूमिः)

Context

Then Vibheeshana, Sugriva and all bulls among Vanaras determined in the matter of slaying (the enemies) went roaring.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Vanaras
• Rakshasas
• Earth (Bhūmi)
• Mountains (Śaila)
• Trident (Śūla)
• Sword (Khaḍga)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes the tragic cost of violence: even when fighting for righteousness, one must recognize war’s horror and avoid needless cruelty.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama anticipates the coming battlefield conditions—immense missiles and massive casualties—as the armies prepare for full engagement.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Grave responsibility—Rama’s awareness that righteous ends do not erase the suffering caused by war.