Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 104, Shloka 17

रावणशूलप्रक्षेपः

Ravana Hurls the Trident; Rama Counters with Indra’s Javelin

Devanagari script

स गृहीत्वामहावीर्यश्शूलंतद्रावणोमहत् ।विनद्यसुमहानादंरामंपरुषमब्रवीत् ।।।।

Transliteration

sa gṛhītvā mahāvīryaḥ śūlaṃ tad rāvaṇo mahat |

vinadya sumahānādaṃ rāmaṃ paruṣam abravīt ||6.104.17||

Translation

勇力无边的罗波那执起那巨大的三叉戟，发出震天长啸，继而以粗厉之言对罗摩说道。

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• gṛhītvā: having taken hold
• gṛhītvā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √grah (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), 'having seized'

• mahā-vīryaḥ: of great valor
• mahā-vīryaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + vīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); 'great in valor'

• śūlam: trident
• śūlam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); modifies śūlam

• rāvaṇaḥ: Ravana
• rāvaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• mahat: great
• mahat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with śūlam

• vinadya: having roared
• vinadya: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√nad (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), 'having roared/sounded'

• su-mahā-nādam: a very loud roar
• su-mahā-nādam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + nāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); 'very great roar' (su + mahā-nāda)

• rāmam: to Rama
• rāmam: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• paruṣam: harshly
• paruṣam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative used as manner (क्रियाविशेषण-रूपेण द्वितीया)

• abravīt: spoke
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

Context

Ravana who was endowed with extraordinary valour, taking hold of the trident, addressed Rama harshly in a loud tone.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Rāma
• Śūla (trident)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes right speech (satya and śīla): harsh, intimidating words used to dominate an opponent reflect adharma and inner disorder.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa, weapon in hand, begins to address Rāma directly with loud, aggressive speech.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Restraint in speech is the implied virtue—true strength does not require cruelty of words.