Shloka 12

राघव-रावणयोः घोर-द्वैरथ-युद्धम्

The Fierce Chariot-Duel of Rama and Ravana

Devanagari script

रामश्चिक्षेपतेजस्वीकेतुमुद्धिश्यसायकम् ।जगाम स महींछित्त्वादशग्रीवध्वजंशरः ।।6.109.12।।

Transliteration

rāmaś cikṣepa tejasvī ketum uddiśya sāyakam |

jagāma sa mahīṃ chittvā daśagrīva-dhvajam śaraḥ ||6.109.12||

Translation

พระรามผู้รุ่งเรืองทรงแผลงศรเล็งที่เสาธง ศรนั้นฉีกทำลายธงของทศกัณฐ์แล้วพุ่งปักลงสู่พื้นพิภพ

Word by Word

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• चिक्षेप: threw/shot
• चिक्षेप: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• तेजस्वी: radiant/glorious
• तेजस्वी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तेजस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (रामः)

• केतुम्: banner/standard
• केतुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• उद्दिश्य: aiming at
• उद्दिश्य: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + दिश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (gerund), ‘aiming at’

• सायकम्: arrow
• सायकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• सः: that
• सः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; (शरः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• महीम्: the ground
• महीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd), एकवचन

• छित्त्वा: having cut
• छित्त्वा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (gerund), ‘having cut’

• दश-ग्रीव-ध्वजम्: the standard of the ten-necked (Ravana)
• दश-ग्रीव-ध्वजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशग्रीव (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘दशग्रीवस्य ध्वजम्’)

• शरः: the arrow
• शरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Context

Ravana's flag post fell down, struck by Rama. Mighty Ravana, observing his post being struck, became intolerant, and burning in anger, laughing, rained showers of arrows at Rama out of fury.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Daśagrīva (Rāvaṇa)
• Banner/standard (ketu/dhvaja)
• Earth (mahī)

FAQs

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

Dharma subdues arrogance through rightful strength: the fall of the standard symbolizes the humbling of adharma’s pride.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma’s arrow severs Rāvaṇa’s banner, a visible sign of turning fortune in the duel.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Competence joined to righteousness—skill (śaurya) employed in the service of a just end.