Shloka 8

रामरावणयोर्युद्धवैषम्यं तथा रावणशिरश्छेदनम्

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

Devanagari script

रावणस्यततोरामोधनुर्मुस्तैश्शितैश्शरैः ।।।।चतुर्भिश्चतुरोदीप्तान्हयान्प्रत्यपसर्पयत् ।

Transliteration

rāvaṇasya tato rāmo dhanur muṣṭaiḥ śitaiḥ śaraiḥ | caturbhiś caturō dīptān hayān pratyapasarpayat ||

Translation

แล้วพระรามทรงกำคันศรและดึงสายแน่น ยิงศรคมกริบสว่างวาบสี่ดอก บีบให้ม้าทั้งสี่ของทศกัณฐ์ถอยร่นไป

Word by Word

• rāvaṇasya: of Ravana
• rāvaṇasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• tataḥ: thereupon
• tataḥ: Kāla/Hetu-dyotaka (काल/हेतु-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Ablatival adverb (ततः), sequence ‘thereupon’

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• dhanuḥ: bow
• dhanuḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• muṣṭaiḥ: with (his) fists/grip
• muṣṭaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Feminine (usage), Instrumental, Plural; ‘with fists/with (his) grip’

• śitaiḥ: sharp
• śitaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural (agreeing with śaraiḥ)

• śaraiḥ: with arrows
• śaraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• caturbhiḥ: with four
• caturbhiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral adjective; Instrumental, Plural (agreeing with śaraiḥ; ‘with four’)

• caturo: four
• caturo: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural (agreeing with hayān)

• dīptān: glowing
• dīptān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīpta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त) from √dīp; Masculine, Accusative, Plural (agreeing with hayān)

• hayān: horses
• hayān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: haya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• praty-apasarpayat: drove back
• praty-apasarpayat: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sṛp (धातु) + prati + apa (उपसर्ग)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person, Singular; causative sense ‘made retreat/drove back’

Context

The two chariots stood facing each other on the battlefield once more, the axle of one chariot facing the axle of another chariot, the flag of one with another flag, the standard with another standard, the face of one horse with the face of another horse stood and it seemed as though they were together.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Rāvaṇa
• bow (dhanuḥ)
• arrows (śara)
• horses (haya)

FAQs

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

Righteous combat includes strategic disabling rather than indiscriminate slaughter: Rāma targets mobility (the horses) to check the enemy’s aggression.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma shoots four arrows to drive back the four horses of Rāvaṇa’s chariot, gaining tactical advantage.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prajñā (strategic intelligence) alongside śaurya (heroic force).