Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 96, Shloka 1

युद्धाय रावणस्य निर्याणं तथा उत्पातदर्शनम्

Ravana’s Mobilization for War and the ظهور of Fatal Portents

Devanagari script

आर्तानांराक्षसीनांतुलङ्कायांवैकुलेकुले ।रावणःकरुणंशब्दंशुश्रावपरिदेवितम् ।।6.96.1।।

Transliteration

ārtānāṃ rākṣasīnām tu laṅkāyāṃ vai kule kule | rāvaṇaḥ karuṇaṃ śabdaṃ śuśrāva paridevitam ||6.96.1||

Translation

在楞迦（Laṅkā），家家户户、族族门门之间，罗波那（Rāvaṇa）听见受苦的罗刹女发出凄切的哀号与悲泣。

Word by Word

• आर्तानाम्: of the distressed
• आर्तानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्—राक्षसीनाम्

• राक्षसीनाम्: of the rākṣasī women
• राक्षसीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तु: indeed
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अन्वय (but/indeed)

• लङ्कायाम्: in Lanka
• लङ्कायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लङ्का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अधिकरणम् (location)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/प्रत्यय (indeed)

• कुले: in a house
• कुले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अधिकरण; (पुनरुक्तिः—वितरणार्थे)

• कुले: in (each) house
• कुले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पुनरुक्त-सप्तमी (house after house)

• रावणः: Ravana
• रावणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• करुणम्: piteous
• करुणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: करुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्—शब्दम्

• शब्दम्: sound/cry
• शब्दम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शुश्राव: heard
• शुश्राव: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्शभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• परिदेवितम्: lamented
• परिदेवितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि+√दिव्/देव् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; शब्दम् इति विशेषणम् (lamented)

Context

Ravana heard from every house in Lanka sounds of piteous cries and pathetic sounds of the afflicted.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Laṅkā
• rākṣasī (women of Laṅkā)

FAQs

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

Adharma brings collective suffering: wrongful leadership and violence do not remain private faults but ripple through society, here seen as grief spreading through every household.

What is the narrative situation?

After heavy losses in the war, Laṅkā is filled with mourning; Rāvaṇa hears widespread lamentation from the rākṣasī women.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse highlights not a virtue of Rāvaṇa but a moral contrast: the absence of righteous governance (dharma) results in public distress, underscoring the Ramayana’s ideal of compassionate, responsible rule.