Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 108, Shloka 18

रावणरथवैभव–निमित्तदर्शन–राममातलिसंवादः

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

Devanagari script

शरांश्चसुमहावेगान्सूर्यरश्मिसमप्रभान् ।तदुपोढुंमहद्युद्धमन्योन्यवधकाङ्क्षिणोः ।।।।परस्पराभिमुखयोर्दृप्तयोरिवसिंहयोः ।

Transliteration

śarāṃś ca sumahāvegān sūryaraśmisamaprabhān | tad upoḍhuṃ mahadyuddham anyonyavadhakāṅkṣiṇoḥ || parasparābhimukhayor dṛptayor iva siṃhayoḥ ||

Translation

At ang mga palasong napakabilis, maningning na gaya ng sinag ng araw, ay inihanda habang papalapit ang dakilang labanan—magkatapat ang dalawang kalaban, kapwa uhaw sa kamatayan ng isa’t isa, na wari’y mapagmataas na mga leon na nagtatagpo.

Word by Word

• śarān: arrows
• śarān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चयः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (conjunction)

• su-mahā-vegān: very swift
• su-mahā-vegān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय) + mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + vega (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya with intensifier; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifying 'śarān'

• sūrya-raśmi-sama-prabhān: radiant like sun-rays
• sūrya-raśmi-sama-prabhān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sūrya (प्रातिपदिक) + raśmi (प्रातिपदिक) + sama (प्रातिपदिक) + prabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (with comparison element 'sama'); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifying 'śarān'

• tad: that
• tad: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); referring to the situation/that (encounter)

• upoḍhum: to bring on/approach
• upoḍhum: Prayojana (प्रयोजनम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√vah (वह् धातु) + tumun (तुमुन्)
• Form: Kridanta infinitive (tumunanta); in sense 'to bring on/undergo/approach'

• mahat: great
• mahat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adjective; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying 'yuddham'

• yuddham: battle
• yuddham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• anyonya-vadha-kāṅkṣiṇoḥ: of the two who desired to kill each other
• anyonya-vadha-kāṅkṣiṇoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anyonya (प्रातिपदिक) + vadha (प्रातिपदिक) + kāṅkṣin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Genitive (षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन); masculine; 'of the two desiring each other’s killing'

• paraspara-abhimukhayoḥ: of the two facing each other
• paraspara-abhimukhayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paraspara (प्रातिपदिक) + abhimukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Genitive (षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन); masculine; qualifying the same pair

• dṛptayoḥ: of the two proud/fierce
• dṛptayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dṛpta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adjective; Genitive (षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन); masculine; 'of the two proud/fierce'

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (simile particle)

• siṃhayoḥ: of two lions
• siṃhayoḥ: Upamāna (उपमानम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siṃha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन)

Context

Devas rained blood on Ravana's chariot, wind blew in circles intensely from left to right.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Rāvaṇa
• arrows

FAQs

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

Dharma in war demands clarity of aim and accountability: even in lethal conflict, the epic frames battle as a grave, purposeful act—not mere rage.

What is the narrative situation?

The decisive duel is about to begin; both sides stand face-to-face with weapons poised.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage and resolve are foregrounded; the verse also warns that pride (darpa) can accompany combat and must be governed by Dharma.