Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 108, Shloka 15

रावणरथवैभव–निमित्तदर्शन–राममातलिसंवादः

Ravana’s Chariot, Portents, and Rama–Matali Instructions

Devanagari script

अपसव्यंततःकुर्वन् रावणस्यमहारथम् ।चक्रसम्भूतरसारावणंव्यवदूनयन् ।।।।

Transliteration

apasavyaṃ tataḥ kurvan rāvaṇasya mahāratham |

cakrasambhūtarajasā rāvaṇaṃ vyavadhūnayan ||6.108.15||

Translation

Pagkaraan, pinaikot ni Mātali sa salungat na landas ang dakilang karwahe ni Rāvaṇa; at sa alikabok na inihahagis ng umiikot na mga gulong, kanyang niyanig si Rāvaṇa.

Word by Word

• apasavyam: leftward/reversely
• apasavyam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: apasavya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable adverb): 'to the left/reverse-wise'

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable adverb): 'then/thereupon'

• kurvan: making/turning
• kurvan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: Kridanta present active participle (śatṛ); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); 'doing/making'

• rāvaṇasya: of Ravana
• rāvaṇasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• mahāratham: the great chariot
• mahāratham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya compound; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); object of 'kurvan'

• cakra-sambhūta-rajasā: with dust raised by the wheels
• cakra-sambhūta-rajasā: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakra (प्रातिपदिक) + sambhūta (कृदन्त: √bhū + kta) + rajas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग) 'rajas' in sense; Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); 'with dust arisen from wheels'

• rāvaṇam: Ravana
• rāvaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vyavadhūnayan: shaking
• vyavadhūnayan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-ava-√dhū (धू धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: Kridanta present active participle (śatṛ); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); 'shaking/causing to be shaken'

Context

Then Matali made the chariot turn round and by the dust rising from the rolling wheels of the chariot, Ravana was shaken.

Characters & Entities

• Mātali
• Rāvaṇa
• Chariot

FAQs

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

Dharma permits skillful means in a just battle: tactical control and measured force can prevent greater harm and hasten the end of adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Mātali executes a maneuver that unsettles Rāvaṇa, using the chariot’s motion and dust to disrupt him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kauśala (competent skill): Mātali’s mastery in chariot warfare serving a dharmic cause.