Shloka 21

रामरावणयोर्युद्धवैषम्यं तथा रावणशिरश्छेदनम्

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

Devanagari script

स्वस्तिगोब्राह्मणेभ्योऽस्तुलोकास्तिष्ठन्तुशाश्वताः ।जयतांराघयसङ्ख्येरावणंराक्षसेश्वरम् ।।।।एवंजपन्तोऽपश्यंस्तेदेवास्सर्षिगणास्तदा ।रामरावणयोर्युद्धंसुघोरंरोमहर्षणम् ।।।।

Transliteration

svasti go-brāhmaṇebhyo 'stu lokās tiṣṭhantu śāśvatāḥ | jayatāṃ rāghavaḥ saṅkhye rāvaṇaṃ rākṣaseśvaram ||

evaṃ japanto 'paśyaṃs te devāḥ sarṣi-gaṇās tadā | rāma-rāvaṇayor yuddhaṃ sughoraṃ romaharṣaṇam ||

Translation

“ขอความสวัสดีจงมีแก่โคและพราหมณ์ทั้งหลาย; ขอโลกทั้งปวงดำรงมั่นเป็นนิตย์; ขอพระราฆวะทรงมีชัยในศึกเหนือทศกัณฐ์ เจ้าแห่งรากษส!” ครั้นสวดภาวนาเช่นนี้ เหล่าเทวะพร้อมหมู่ฤๅษีในกาลนั้น ได้เฝ้าดูสงครามระหว่างพระรามกับทศกัณฐ์ อันน่าสะพรึงกลัว ยิ่งนักจนขนลุกซู่

Word by Word

• गन्धर्वाप्सरसाम्: of Gandharvas and Apsarases
• गन्धर्वाप्सरसाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive; with सङ्घाः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अप्सरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (Gandharvas and Apsarases), षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (genitive plural)

• सङ्घाः: groups, hosts
• सङ्घाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सङ्घ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Absolutive; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund/absolutive), ‘having seen’

• युद्धम्: battle
• युद्धम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; of दृष्ट्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अनूपमम्: unparalleled
• अनूपमम्: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुपम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; युद्धस्य विशेषण

• गगनम्: the sky
• गगनम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; in simile statement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गगन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• गगनाकारम्: sky-like, having the sky as its form
• गगनाकारम्: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गगन (प्रातिपदिक) + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (gagana-ākāra = having the sky as its form/analogue), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; गगनम् इत्यस्य विशेषण

• सागरः: the sea
• सागरः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; in simile statement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सागरोपमः: sea-like, comparable to the sea
• सागरोपमः: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सागर (प्रातिपदिक) + उपम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (sāgara-upama = comparable to the sea), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सागरः इत्यस्य विशेषण

• रामरावणयोः: of Rama and Ravana
• रामरावणयोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक) + रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास, पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-द्विवचन (Genitive dual)

• युद्धम्: battle
• युद्धम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; of ददृशुः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• रामरावणयोः: of Rama and Ravana
• रामरावणयोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive; in comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक) + रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास, पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-द्विवचन

• इव: like
• इव: उपमान (Comparative particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक अव्यय (particle of comparison ‘like/as’)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (thus)

• ब्रुवन्तः: saying
• ब्रुवन्तः: कर्ता (Karta/Agent; participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्तृविशेषण

• ददृशुः: saw
• ददृशुः: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; ‘they saw’

• तत्: that
• तत्: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; युद्धम् इत्यस्य विशेषण

• युद्धम्: battle
• युद्धम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• रामरावणम्: (the pair) Rama and Ravana
• रामरावणम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; apposition to युद्धम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक) + रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (Rama and Ravana), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (collective as a pair)

Context

"May the hosts of sages, Devas, cows and brahmanas be auspicious. May all the worlds endure forever. May Rama conquer Ravana, the Rakshasa king," chanting in that manner all witnessed the terrific war between Rama and Ravana that caused hair to stand.

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Ṛṣis (hosts of sages)
• Cows (go)
• Brāhmaṇas
• Rāghava (Rāma)
• Rāvaṇa
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Dharma is linked to the protection of the vulnerable and the moral-spiritual foundations of society (cows and brāhmaṇas), and to the stability of the worlds—hence the prayer for Rāma’s righteous victory.

What is the narrative situation?

As the final battle rages, celestial beings chant blessings for cosmic welfare and watch the terrifying duel.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s dharmic kingship and protective role—his victory is portrayed as essential for universal well-being.