Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 57, Shloka 35

Devanagari script

व्यभ्रमाकाशमाविश्यमांसशोणितभोजनाः ।।।।मण्डलान्यपसव्यानिखगाश्चक्रूरथंप्रति ।

Transliteration

vyabhram ākāśam āviśya māṃsa-śoṇita-bhojanāḥ |

maṇḍalāny apasavyāni khagāś cakru rathaṃ prati ||6.57.35||

Translation

Ang mga ibong kumakain ng bangkay—tagapaglamon ng laman at dugo—ay pumailanlang sa langit at umikot-ikot, pakaliwa (salungat sa ikot), sa paligid ng karwahe: isang mabigat na masamang pangitain.

Word by Word

• व्यभ्रम्: circled/whirled about
• व्यभ्रम्: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-भ्रम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्; छन्दसि/पाठभेदे 'व्यभ्रमन्/व्यभ्रमुः' अर्थे

• आकाशम्: the sky
• आकाशम्: कर्म (object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आविश्य: having entered
• आविश्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-विश् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त; अव्यय)
• Form: ल्यपन्त अव्यय (gerund): 'having entered/reached'

• मांसशोणितभोजनाः: flesh-and-blood eaters
• मांसशोणितभोजनाः: कर्ता (subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांस-शोणित-भोजन (प्रातिपदिक; मांसम्+शोणितम्+भोजन)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; 'मांसशोणितं भोजनं येषाम्' (those whose food is flesh and blood)

• मण्डलानि: circles/rounds
• मण्डलानि: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• अपसव्यानि: anticlockwise
• अपसव्यानि: कर्म-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप-सव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; अव्ययीभाव: 'अपसव्यं' (leftward/anticlockwise)

• खगाः: birds
• खगाः: कर्ता
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• चक्रुः: made/did
• चक्रुः: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• रथम्: the chariot
• रथम्: कर्म (object with प्रति)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रति: towards/around
• प्रति: दिशा/सम्बन्ध (relation: towards/around)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग/अव्यय (preposition-like indeclinable)

Context

The birds living on flesh and blood reached the sky and circled anticlockwise around the chariot.

Characters & Entities

• chariot (ratha)

FAQs

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

Omens function as narrative ethics: the counterclockwise circling of carrion birds signals impending destruction. The dharmic implication is that violence rooted in adharma draws ruin; satya-oriented action, by contrast, is aligned with auspicious order.

What is the narrative situation?

As Prahastha’s expedition proceeds, ominous birds circle the chariot anticlockwise—an inauspicious sign for the journey and battle.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse emphasizes moral atmosphere rather than virtue: foreboding signs that warn against the path being taken.