Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 8, Shloka 9

युद्धकाण्डे अष्टमः सर्गः — राक्षससभा-युद्धपरामर्शः

War-Council Boasts and Stratagems

Devanagari script

ततोऽब्रवीत्सुसङ्कृद्धोवज्रदंष्ट्रोमहाबलः ।प्रगृह्यपरिघंघोरंमांसशोणितरूषितम् ।।6.8.9।।

Transliteration

tato 'bravīt susaṅkṛddho vajradaṃṣṭro mahābalaḥ |

pragṛhya parighaṃ ghoraṃ māṃsaśoṇitarūṣitam ||6.8.9||

Translation

Pagkaraan, nagsalita ang makapangyarihang Vajradaṃṣṭra, nag-aalab sa galit, habang mahigpit na hawak ang nakapanghihilakbot na pamalong bakal na nabahiran ng laman at dugo.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) = indeclinable adverb; अर्थे: अनन्तरम् (then/thereafter)

• abravīt: spoke
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• su-saṅkṛddhaḥ: highly enraged
• su-saṅkṛddhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su- + saṅkṛddha (कृदन्त; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle) from √krudh with saṃ-; पुल्लिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (nom), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• vajra-daṃṣṭraḥ: Vajradaṃṣṭra (one with thunderbolt-like fangs)
• vajra-daṃṣṭraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajra (प्रातिपदिक) + daṃṣṭra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative) = वज्रवत् दंष्ट्रा यस्य; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• mahā-balaḥ: mighty/very strong
• mahā-balaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (descriptive) = महत् बलम् यस्य; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• pragṛhya: having grasped
• pragṛhya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pra-√grah (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) = having seized; अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal)

• parigham: iron bludgeon/bar
• parigham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parigha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (masc), द्वितीया (acc), एकवचन

• ghoram: dreadful
• ghoram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (parigham)

• māṃsa-śoṇita-rūṣitam: stained with flesh and blood
• māṃsa-śoṇita-rūṣitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: māṃsa (प्रातिपदिक) + śoṇita (प्रातिपदिक) + rūṣita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (instrumental/associative sense) = मांसशोणितेन रूषितम् (stained with flesh and blood); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (parigham)

Context

At this very minute I will go alone into the terrific ocean, to the underworld or the upper world and on entering put an end to the monkey.

Characters & Entities

• Vajradaṃṣṭra
• Parigha (iron club)

FAQs

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

The imagery warns how anger readies one for brutality. Dharma stresses mastery over krodha (anger); otherwise strength becomes mere violence.

What is the narrative situation?

A named rākṣasa warrior rises in the council, visibly prepared for slaughter, signaling escalation toward battle.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Negative emphasis: ferocity without moral discernment; true heroism in the Ramayana is strength governed by righteousness.