Shloka 42
द्वन्द्वयुद्धप्रवृत्तिः
Dvandva-Yuddha: The Onset of Single Combats
भग्नैखडगैर्गदाभिश्चशक्तितोमरपट्टसै: ।अपविद्धैश्चाभिन्नैश्चरथैस्साङ्ग्रामिकैर्हयैः ।।6.43.42।।निहतैःकुञ्जरैर्मत्स्सैस्तथावानरराक्षसैः ।चक्राक्षयुगदण्डैश्चभग्नैर्धरणिसंश्रितैः ।।6.43.43।।बभूवायोधनंघोरंगोमायुगणसेवितम् ।
bhagnair khaḍagair gadābhiś ca śakti-tomara-paṭṭasaiḥ |
apaviddhaiś cābhinnaiś ca rathaiḥ sāṅgrāmikair hayaiḥ ||6.43.42||
nihatāiḥ kuñjaraiḥ matsyaiḥ tathā vānararākṣasaiḥ |
cakrākṣa-yuga-daṇḍaiś ca bhagnair dharaṇisaṃśritaiḥ ||6.43.43||
babhūva āyodhanaṃ ghoraṃ gomāyugaṇa-sevitam |
Chiến địa trở nên ghê rợn: gươm gãy, chùy vỡ; giáo, lao, phi tiêu và rìu vung vãi; chiến xa tan nát, lật nhào, cùng chiến mã ngã gục; voi chết chất đống, Vānara và Rākṣasa cũng nằm la liệt; bánh xe, trục, ách và cán gãy rải khắp mặt đất—đến nỗi bầy chó rừng kéo đến tụ tập.
Then the Rakshasas killed by Vanara leaders, their bodies full of blood were looking for sunset and again picking up strength began to battle.।। ityārṣēvālmīkīyēśrīmadrāmāyaṇēādikāvyēyuddhakāṇḍētricatvāriṅśassargaḥ ।।This is the end of the forty third sarga of Yuddha Kanda of the first epic the holy Ramayana composed by sage Valmiki.
FAQs
It highlights the ethical weight of war: even when fought for dharma, battle brings suffering and ruin, urging sobriety, restraint, and remembrance of life’s impermanence.
After intense fighting, the field is described as strewn with weapons, wreckage, and bodies, attracting scavengers.
Not a single virtue of one character, but the text’s reflective emphasis on vigilance and responsibility in the use of force.