Shloka 11

रामरावणयोर्युद्धवैषम्यं तथा रावणशिरश्छेदनम्

Rama–Ravana Duel Intensifies; Ravana’s Heads Severed and Reappear

Devanagari script

चिक्षेप च पुनर्भाणान्वज्रपातसमस्वनान् ।।।।सारथिंवज्रहस्तस्यसमुद्दिश्यदशाननः ।

Transliteration

cikṣepa ca punar bāṇān vajrapātasama-svanān |

sārathiṃ vajrahastasya samuddiśya daśānanaḥ ||

Translation

แล้วทศานนะ ผู้มีหัตถ์ดุจวัชระ ก็ซัดศรอีกครา เสียงกึกก้องประหนึ่งสายฟ้าฟาด โดยมุ่งหมายไปยังมาตลี สารถีของวีรบุรุษผู้ทรงวัชราวุธ (พระราม)

Word by Word

• cikṣepa: hurled
• cikṣepa: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṣip (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Samucchaya-dyotaka (समुच्चय-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• punar: again
• punar: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb

• bāṇān: arrows
• bāṇān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• vajrapāta-sama-svanān: thunder-crash-sounding
• vajrapāta-sama-svanān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vajrapāta (प्रातिपदिक) + sama (प्रातिपदिक) + svana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa chain (‘having sound equal to thunderbolt-fall’); Masculine, Accusative, Plural (agreeing with bāṇān)

• sārathim: charioteer
• sārathim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sārathi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• vajra-hastasya: of the thunderbolt-handed (Indra)
• vajra-hastasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajra (प्रातिपदिक) + hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi (‘one whose hand is like a thunderbolt’ = Indra); Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• samuddiśya: aiming at
• samuddiśya: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: diś (धातु) + sam + ud (उपसर्ग)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), ‘having aimed at/targeting’

• daśānanaḥ: Ravana
• daśānanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + ānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Context

Even though the arrows fell on Matali's body at great speed, he did not feel perturbed or experience even slight suffering.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa (Daśānana)
• Rāma
• Mātali

FAQs

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

The verse highlights a contrast: dharmic combat prioritizes rightful targets and fairness, while targeting the charioteer suggests a lapse toward adharma—an attempt to weaken the opponent indirectly.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa intensifies the duel by shooting thunderous arrows specifically at Mātali, Rāma’s charioteer.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By implication, Rāma’s reliance on a righteous ally (Mātali) and the importance of loyal service; the verse also foregrounds Rāvaṇa’s aggressive, destabilizing strategy.