Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 96, Shloka 5

युद्धाय रावणस्य निर्याणं तथा उत्पातदर्शनम्

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

Devanagari script

उवाच च समीपस्थान्राक्षसान्राक्षसेश्वरः ।क्रोधाव्यक्तकथस्तत्रनिर्दहन्निवचक्षुषा ।।6.96.4।।महोदरंमहापार्श्वंविरूपाक्षं च राक्षसम् ।शीघ्रंवदतसैन्यानिनिर्यातेतिममाज्ञया ।।6.96.5।।

Transliteration

uvāca ca samīpasthān rākṣasān rākṣaseśvaraḥ |

krodhāvyakta-kathaḥ tatra nirdahann iva cakṣuṣā ||6.96.4||

mahodaraṁ mahāpārśvaṁ virūpākṣaṁ ca rākṣasam |

śīghraṁ vadata sainyāni niryāteti mamājñayā ||6.96.5||

Translation

罗刹之王对身边的罗刹们说道——他怒气填膺，语不成声，双眼仿佛在燃烧。他对摩诃陀罗、摩诃波罗湿婆和毗卢婆叉说道：“快传令军队出击——这是我的命令。”

Word by Word

• महोदरम्: Mahodara
• महोदरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महोदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म (addressed/mentioned); समासः—कर्मधारयः (महान् उदरः यस्य/महान् उदरः = Mahodara, proper name)

• महापार्श्वम्: Mahāpārśva
• महापार्श्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महापार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म; समासः—कर्मधारयः (great-flanked; proper name Mahāpārśva)

• विरूपाक्षम्: Virūpākṣa
• विरूपाक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विरूपाक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म; समासः—कर्मधारयः (odd-eyed; proper name Virūpākṣa)

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

• राक्षसम्: the rākṣasa
• राक्षसम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (विरूपाक्षम् इत्यस्य विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन—‘the rākṣasa’)

• शीघ्रम्: quickly
• शीघ्रम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शीघ्र (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: अव्ययवत् क्रियाविशेषण (quickly)

• वदत: say/tell (you all)
• वदत: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ/Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• सैन्यानि: the troops/armies
• सैन्यानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सैन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; वदत इति क्रियायाः कर्म

• निर्यात: let (them) march out
• निर्यात: Kriya (आज्ञा-वाक्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि+√या (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ/Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; (इति-उक्तिः—‘let (them) march out’)

• इति: thus
• इति: Vacana-marker (इति-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्यसमाप्ति/उद्धरणसूचक

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (my)

• आज्ञया: by (my) command
• आज्ञया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; करणम् (by (my) order/command)

Context

Thus spoke the Lord of Rakshasas indistinctly in anger with his eyes burning as though it would consume them (Rakshasas). He commanded Mahodara, Mahaparsva and Virupaksha who stood nearby saying" quickly instruct the army to go."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Mahodara
• Mahāpārśva
• Virūpākṣa
• rākṣasa army

FAQs

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

The verse warns that leadership driven by anger distorts judgment and speech. Dharma-based leadership requires calm discernment; wrath-based command leads communities into harm.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa, enraged, issues urgent orders to his commanders to deploy the rākṣasa forces and march out to the battlefield.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By negative example, self-control (dama) is highlighted: Rāvaṇa’s lack of restraint becomes a moral marker of adharma in command.