Mahabharata · 7.71.27–28
॥
Devanāgarī
घटोत्कचस् तथा शूरं राक्षसं तम् अलायुधम् ॥
अभ्ययाद् रभसं युद्धे वेगम् आस्थाय मध्यमम् ॥
तयोर् युद्धं महाराज चित्ररूपम् इवाभवत् ॥
यादृशं हि पुरा वृत्तं रामरावणयोर् मृधे ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ghaṭotkacas tathā śūraṃ rākṣasaṃ tam alāyudham ||
abhyayād rabhasaṃ yuddhe vegam āsthāya madhyamam ||
tayor yuddhaṃ mahārāja citrarūpam ivābhavat ||
yādṛśaṃ hi purā vṛttaṃ rāmarāvaṇayor mṛdhe ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
घटोत्कचः तथा शूरम्ghaṭotkacaḥ tathā śūramGhatotkacha thus the brave; Ghatotkacha thus the brave
राक्षसम् तम् अलायुधम्rākṣasam tam alāyudhamthat rakshasa, Alayudha; that rakshasa, Alayudha
अभ्ययात् रभसम् युद्धेabhyayāt rabhasam yuddherushed forth, impetuous in battle; rushed forth, impetuous in battle
वेगम् आस्थाय मध्यमम्vegam āsthāya madhyamamtaking a middling speed; taking a middling speed
तयोः युद्धम् महाराजtayoḥ yuddham mahārājatheir battle, o great king; their battle, o sovereign
चित्ररूपम् इव अभवत्citrarūpam iva abhavatbecame, as it were, of wondrous form; became, as it were, wondrous
यादृशम् हि पुरा वृत्तम्yādṛśam hi purā vṛttamsuch as had happened of old; such as had been of old
रामरावणयोः मृधेrāmarāvaṇayoḥ mṛdhein the combat of Rama and Ravana; in the combat of Rama and Ravana
Translation
Ghatotkacha thus rushed forth against that brave rakshasa, Alayudha, impetuous in battle, taking a middling speed. Their battle, o great king, became as it were of wondrous form, such as had happened of old in the combat of Rama and Ravana.
Version
01a491c6c9ea · published Jul 19, 2026, 3:52:56 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The duel of the two rakshasas is raised to the greatest of models: 'rāmarāvaṇayoḥ mṛdhe,' the battle of Rama and Ravana. It is telling that for the tradition this image is the highest one: Rama, the avatara of Vishnu, against Ravana, evil incarnate. Thus the earthly clash catches the light of that victory of dharma over adharma. The verse teaches that every righteous battle is a reflection of the Rama-lila — the Lord's victory over evil; and the mention of Rama and Ravana reminds us that behind all battles stands a single story: the triumph of God over untruth, into which this war too is written.