Shloka 12

रामरावणयोर्युद्धवैषम्यं तथा रावणशिरश्छेदनम्

Rama–Ravana Duel Intensifies; Ravana’s Heads Severed and Reappear

Devanagari script

मातलेस्तुमहावेगाश्शरीरेपतिताश्शराः ।।।।न सूक्ष्ममपिसम्मोहंव्यथांवाप्रददुर्युधि ।

Transliteration

mātales tu mahāvegāḥ śarīre patitāḥ śarāḥ |

na sūkṣmam api sammohaṃ vyathāṃ vā pradadur yudhi ||

Translation

Những mũi tên đại lực, cực nhanh rơi trúng thân Mātali, nhưng giữa chiến trận chẳng gây cho ông dù chỉ một chút mê loạn hay đau đớn.

Word by Word

• mātaleḥ: of Matali
• mātaleḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• tu: however
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध-बोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• mahā-vegāḥ: very swift
• mahā-vegāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + vega (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (‘great-speed’); Masculine, Nominative, Plural (agreeing with śarāḥ)

• śarīre: in the body
• śarīre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarīra (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• patitāḥ: fallen/struck
• patitāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pat (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त) from √pat; Masculine, Nominative, Plural (agreeing with śarāḥ)

• śarāḥ: arrows
• śarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• na: not
• na: Nishedha-dyotaka (निषेध-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle

• sūkṣmam: slight
• sūkṣmam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sūkṣma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; used adverbially with api: ‘even the slightest’

• api: even
• api: Sambandha-dyotaka (सम्बन्ध-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle ‘even’

• sammoham: confusion/stupefaction
• sammoham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sammohā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• vyathām: pain
• vyathām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyathā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa-dyotaka (विकल्प-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्प)

• pradaduḥ: caused
• pradaduḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु) + pra (उपसर्ग)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Plural; ‘gave/caused’ (here: ‘caused’)

• yudhi: in battle
• yudhi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yudh (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular; ‘in battle’

Context

Rama was furious for tormenting Matali like that, but not for hurting him and in fury discharged a network of arrows on him (Ravana) and diverted him.

Characters & Entities

• Mātali
• Rāvaṇa (implied attacker)
• Rāma (implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma is reflected as steadfast composure under harm—self-mastery and clarity of mind even amid violence, a hallmark of disciplined service.

What is the narrative situation?

Mātali is struck by Rāvaṇa’s arrows, yet remains unaffected—neither shaken nor pained.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fortitude and equanimity (titikṣā, dhairya) in the performance of duty.