Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 53, Shloka 21

युद्धकाण्डे त्रिपञ्चाशः सर्गः — धूम्राक्षवधश्रवणं, वज्रदंष्ट्रप्रेषणं, अङ्गद-राक्षसयुद्धम्

Ravana Dispatches Vajradamshtra; Portents and Angada’s Assault

Devanagari script

द्रुमाणांचशिलानांचशस्त्राणांचापिनिस्स्वनः ।।।।श्रूयतेसुमहांस्तत्रघोरोहृदयभेदसः ।

Transliteration

drumāṇāṃ ca śilānāṃ ca śastrāṇāṃ cāpi niḥsvanaḥ |

śrūyate sumahāṃs tatra ghoro hṛdayabhedasaḥ ||

Translation

Bấy giờ nơi ấy vang lên tiếng động cực lớn, ghê rợn như xé nát tim gan—tiếng cây rừng va đập, đá tảng chạm nhau, cùng binh khí giao tranh rền dội.

Word by Word

• द्रुमाणाम्: of trees
• द्रुमाणाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: druma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन (masc gen pl)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• शिलानाम्: of rocks
• शिलानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śilā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन (fem gen pl)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• शस्त्राणाम्: of weapons
• शस्त्राणाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śastra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन (neuter gen pl)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/समुच्चयार्थ (also/even)

• निःस्वनः: sound/clangor
• निःस्वनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niḥsvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masc nom sg)

• श्रूयते: is heard
• श्रूयते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (is heard)

• सुमहान्: very great/loud
• सुमहान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su- (उपसर्ग) + mahant (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (masc nom sg; qualifying ‘निःस्वनः’)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb: there)

• घोरः: terrible
• घोरः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (masc nom sg; qualifying ‘निःस्वनः’)

• हृदयभेदसः: heart-splitting
• हृदयभेदसः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hṛdaya (प्रातिपदिक) + bheda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: हृदयस्य भेदः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (masc nom sg; ‘heart-piercing’)

Context

There, a very loud fearful noise was heard which pierced the hearts in the battlefield, that was produced by the striking of weapons with trees and rocks.

FAQs

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

The verse functions as a moral reminder of war’s terror: dharma seeks order and protection of beings, while uncontrolled conflict generates fear and suffering that 'pierces the heart.'

What is the narrative situation?

A vivid sensory depiction of the battlefield, emphasizing the overwhelming noise from impacts of natural and martial implements.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Not a single virtue, but the verse stresses the seriousness of righteous decision-making before war, given its dreadful consequences.