Shloka 15

युद्धलक्षण-निमित्तदर्शनं तथा लङ्काद्वारव्यूहः

War Omens and the Encirclement of Lanka’s Gates

Devanagari script

रक्तचन्दनसङ्काशासन्ध्यापरमदारुणा ।ज्वलच्चनिपतत्येतदादित्यादग्निमण्डलम् ।।6.41.15।।

Transliteration

rakta-candana-saṅkāśā sandhyā parama-dāruṇā |

jvalac ca nipataty etad ādityād agni-maṇḍalam ||6.41.15||

Translation

Ang takipsilim ay lubhang kakila-kilabot, nagliliwanag na tila pulang sandalwood; at mula sa araw ay waring bumabagsak ang naglalagablab na bilog ng apoy.

Word by Word

• rakta-candana-saṅkāśā: resembling red sandalwood
• rakta-candana-saṅkāśā: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rakta (प्रातिपदिक) + candana (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅkāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa; Feminine, Nominative (1st), Singular; adjective of ‘sandhyā’

• sandhyā: twilight
• sandhyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sandhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• parama-dāruṇā: extremely dreadful
• parama-dāruṇā: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + dāruṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) ‘paramā ca sā dāruṇā’; Feminine, Nominative, Singular; adjective of ‘sandhyā’

• jvalat: blazing
• jvalat: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jval (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; qualifies ‘agni-maṇḍalam’

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

• nipatati: falls down
• nipatati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-pat (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (present), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• etat: this
• etat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st), Singular; pronoun referring to ‘agni-maṇḍalam’

• ādityāt: from the sun
• ādityāt: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āditya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• agni-maṇḍalam: a globe/orb of fire
• agni-maṇḍalam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक) + maṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa ‘agner maṇḍalam’; Neuter, Nominative (1st), Singular

Context

"The fierce clouds resembling wild birds are making terrible harsh sounds and rain mixed with drops of blood is showering."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• sandhyā (twilight)
• āditya (sun)
• agni (fire)

FAQs

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

Dharma involves acting with clarity in crisis: ominous cosmic imagery heightens the need for disciplined, truthful decision-making rather than panic.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma observes terrifying celestial portents that signal impending large-scale conflict.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Composure under foreboding signs—Rāma reports the omen plainly while continuing preparation.