Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 57, Shloka 38

प्रहस्तनिर्याणम्

Prahasta’s Departure and the Muster of the Rakshasa Host

Devanagari script

अन्योन्यमभिसंरब्धाग्रहाश्चनचकाशिरे ।।6.57.37।।मेघाश्चखरनिर्घोषारथस्योपरिरक्षसः ।ववृषंरुधिरंचास्यसिषिचुश्चपुरस्सरान् ।।6.57.38।।

Transliteration

anyonyam abhisaṁrabdhā grahāś ca na cakāśire | meghāś ca khara-nirghoṣā rathasyopari rakṣasaḥ | vavṛṣuṁ rudhiraṁ cāsya siṣicuś ca purassarān ||

Translation

Nagbanggaan ang mga bituin at mga planeta at naglaho ang kanilang ningning; ang mga ulap, umuugong nang mabagsik, ay nagpaulan ng dugo sa ibabaw ng karwahe ng Rākṣasa at binasa ang pangunang hanay—isang mariing pag-uulit ng masamang pangitain.

Word by Word

• ketuḥ: banner, standard
• ketuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ketu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• mūrdhani: on the top (head/crest)
• mūrdhani: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrdhan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• gṛdhraḥ: vulture
• gṛdhraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛdhra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• asya: of it/of him
• asya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• nilīnaḥ: perched, settled
• nilīnaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ni-līna (कृदन्त, √lī धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• dakṣiṇā-mukhaḥ: facing south
• dakṣiṇā-mukhaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dakṣiṇā (प्रातिपदिक) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; तत्पुरुष: ‘south’ + ‘faced’

• tudan: pecking, striking
• tudan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tud (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agreeing with gṛdhraḥ

• ubhayataḥ: on both sides
• ubhayataḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ubhayataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय)

• pārśvam: the side/flank
• pārśvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• samagram: entire, whole
• samagram: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samagra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; agreeing with pārśvam

• harat: took away, snatched
• harat: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √hṛ (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• prabhām: splendour, radiance
• prabhām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

Context

Seeing a vulture sitting on the banner (of Prahastha) facing south scratching both sides, Prahastha became pale as if the entire prosperity had been snatched away.

Characters & Entities

• Planets (grahāḥ)
• Clouds (meghāḥ)
• Rākṣasas
• Chariot (ratha)

FAQs

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

Repetition reinforces the moral warning: dharma sustains cosmic intelligibility, while adharma is portrayed as making even the heavens ‘go dark’—a call to return to truth (satya).

What is the narrative situation?

The text reiterates the same set of portents as the Rākṣasa forces proceed, consistent with some Southern Recension transmission patterns.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Attentiveness to warning signs (prudence) is implied; ignoring repeated cautions is framed as moral and strategic blindness.