Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 108, Shloka 15

रावणरथवैभव–निमित्तदर्शन–राममातलिसंवादः

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

Devanagari script

अपसव्यंततःकुर्वन् रावणस्यमहारथम् ।चक्रसम्भूतरसारावणंव्यवदूनयन् ।।।।

Transliteration

apasavyaṃ tataḥ kurvan rāvaṇasya mahāratham |

cakrasambhūtarajasā rāvaṇaṃ vyavadhūnayan ||6.108.15||

Translation

پھر ماتلی نے رَاوَṇ کے مہارَتھ کو اُلٹی سمت موڑ دیا، اور پہیوں کی گردش سے اُٹھنے والی گرد کے بادل سے رَاوَṇ کو جھنجھوڑ کر بے قرار کر دیا۔

Word by Word

• apasavyam: leftward/reversely
• apasavyam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: apasavya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable adverb): 'to the left/reverse-wise'

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable adverb): 'then/thereupon'

• kurvan: making/turning
• kurvan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: Kridanta present active participle (śatṛ); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); 'doing/making'

• rāvaṇasya: of Ravana
• rāvaṇasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• mahāratham: the great chariot
• mahāratham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya compound; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); object of 'kurvan'

• cakra-sambhūta-rajasā: with dust raised by the wheels
• cakra-sambhūta-rajasā: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakra (प्रातिपदिक) + sambhūta (कृदन्त: √bhū + kta) + rajas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग) 'rajas' in sense; Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); 'with dust arisen from wheels'

• rāvaṇam: Ravana
• rāvaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vyavadhūnayan: shaking
• vyavadhūnayan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-ava-√dhū (धू धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: Kridanta present active participle (śatṛ); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); 'shaking/causing to be shaken'

Context

Then Matali made the chariot turn round and by the dust rising from the rolling wheels of the chariot, Ravana was shaken.

Characters & Entities

• Mātali
• Rāvaṇa
• Chariot

FAQs

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

Dharma permits skillful means in a just battle: tactical control and measured force can prevent greater harm and hasten the end of adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Mātali executes a maneuver that unsettles Rāvaṇa, using the chariot’s motion and dust to disrupt him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kauśala (competent skill): Mātali’s mastery in chariot warfare serving a dharmic cause.