Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 96, Shloka 38

युद्धाय रावणस्य निर्याणं तथा उत्पातदर्शनम्

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

Devanagari script

एतानचिन्तयन्घोरानुत्पातान्समवस्थितान् ।निर्ययौरावणोमोहाद्वधार्थंकालचोदितः ।।6.96.38।।

Transliteration

etān acintayan ghorān utpātān samavasthitān |

niryayau rāvaṇo mohād vadhārthaṁ kāla-coditaḥ ||6.96.38||

Translation

他不曾思量这些已现的可怖凶兆；罗波那迷惑于心，又为时运所驱，仍迈步而出，走向等待他的毁灭。

Word by Word

• एतान्: these
• एतान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (demonstrative used adjectivally), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अचिन्तयन्: not considering
• अचिन्तयन्: कर्तृविशेषण (Karta-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चिन्त् (धातु) → चिन्तयत् (कृदन्त, शतृ) with negation अ-
• Form: नञ्-पूर्वक वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (negative present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• घोरान्: terrible
• घोरान्: कर्मविशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• उत्पातान्: omens/portents
• उत्पातान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्पात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• समवस्थितान्: that had occurred/present
• समवस्थितान्: कर्मविशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्+अव+स्था (धातु) → समवस्थित (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• निर्ययौ: went out
• निर्ययौ: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्+या (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• रावणः: Ravana
• रावणः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• मोहात्: from delusion
• मोहात्: हेतु (Hetu/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular)

• वधार्थम्: for killing/destruction
• वधार्थम्: प्रयोजन (Prayojana/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वध (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (purpose: वधस्य अर्थः), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular) (क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण)

• कालचोदितः: impelled by time/fate
• कालचोदितः: कर्तृविशेषण (Karta-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक) + चोदित (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय; √चुद्/चोद्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (agent: कालेन चोदितः), भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

Context

Impelled by the time spirit, Ravana set forth without thinking of the terrific portents that had appeared in delusion for his destruction.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Kāla (Time/Fate)

FAQs

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

Dharma requires reflection and self-restraint; delusion (moha) blinds one to warnings and consequences. The verse teaches that ignoring moral and practical signs accelerates one’s fall.

What is the narrative situation?

Despite ominous signs, Rāvaṇa sets out for battle, portrayed as being pushed forward by a larger inevitability (kāla) because he will not turn from adharma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and humility are emphasized by absence: the failure to deliberate and to accept correction becomes Rāvaṇa’s defining weakness here.