वाल्मीकि-रामायणम् vālmīki-rāmāyaṇam - book-7, chapter-28, verse-31

ततो युद्धं प्रवृत्तं तु सुराणां राक्षसैः सह ।
शस्त्राभिवर्षणं घोरं मेघानामिव संयुगे ॥३१॥

31. tato yuddhaṃ pravṛttaṃ tu surāṇāṃ rākṣasaiḥ saha ,
śastrābhivarṣaṇaṃ ghoraṃ meghānāmiva saṃyuge.

31. tataḥ yuddham pravṛttam tu surāṇām rākṣasaiḥ saha
śastrābhivarṣaṇam ghoram meghānām iva saṃyuge

31. Then, indeed, a battle began between the gods and the rākṣasas, a fierce shower of weapons (descending) like rain from clouds in a storm.

Words meanings summery:

• ततः (tataḥ) - then (indicating sequence) (then, thence, afterwards)

• युद्धम् (yuddham) - a battle, conflict (battle, war)

• प्रवृत्तम् (pravṛttam) - commenced, began (commenced, begun, proceeded)

• तु (tu) - indeed (emphatic) (but, indeed, however)

• सुराणाम् (surāṇām) - of the gods

• राक्षसैः (rākṣasaiḥ) - by rākṣasas (demons) (by rākṣasas, by demons)

• सह (saha) - with (with, along with)

• शस्त्राभिवर्षणम् (śastrābhivarṣaṇam) - a shower of weapons

• घोरम् (ghoram) - fierce, terrible (shower of weapons) (terrible, fierce, dreadful)

• मेघानाम् (meghānām) - of clouds

• इव (iva) - like (like, as, as if)

• संयुगे (saṁyuge) - in the battle (in battle, in conflict)

Words meanings and morphology

ततः (tataḥ) - then (indicating sequence) (then, thence, afterwards)

(indeclinable)

From pronoun 'tad' with '-tas' suffix.

युद्धम् (yuddham) - a battle, conflict (battle, war)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of yuddha

yuddha - battle, fight, war, combat

Past passive participle of root 'yudh' (to fight), used as a noun.

Root: yudh (class 4)

Note: Subject of 'pravṛttam'.

प्रवृत्तम् (pravṛttam) - commenced, began (commenced, begun, proceeded)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of pravṛtta

pravṛtta - commenced, begun, proceeded, happened, active

Past Passive Participle

From prefix 'pra' + root 'vṛt' (to turn, roll, exist).

Prefix: pra

Root: vṛt (class 1)

तु (tu) - indeed (emphatic) (but, indeed, however)

(indeclinable)

Particle.

सुराणाम् (surāṇām) - of the gods

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, plural of sura

sura - god, deity

From 'su' (good, well) + 'rā' (giver) or 'svar' (heaven).

Note: Indicates possession or relation; here 'between the gods'.

राक्षसैः (rākṣasaiḥ) - by rākṣasas (demons) (by rākṣasas, by demons)

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of rākṣasa

rākṣasa - rākṣasa, demon, goblin

From root 'rakṣ' (to protect), ironically interpreted as those who are to be protected from, or those who protect their own evil.

Root: rakṣ (class 1)

Note: Used with 'saha' to mean 'with the rākṣasas'.

सह (saha) - with (with, along with)

(indeclinable)

Preposition/adverb requiring instrumental case.

Note: Governs 'rākṣasaiḥ'.

शस्त्राभिवर्षणम् (śastrābhivarṣaṇam) - a shower of weapons

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of śastrābhivarṣaṇa

śastrābhivarṣaṇa - shower of weapons, rain of missiles

Compound of 'śastra' (weapon) + 'abhivarṣaṇa' (showering down, raining upon).

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (śastra+abhivarṣaṇa)

• śastra – weapon, knife, sword
  noun (neuter)
  From root 'śas' (to cut, kill).
  Root: śas (class 2)
• abhivarṣaṇa – showering, raining upon, copious discharge
  noun (neuter)
  From prefix 'abhi' + root 'vṛṣ' (to rain).
  Prefix: abhi
  Root: vṛṣ (class 1)

Note: Describes an aspect of the battle.

घोरम् (ghoram) - fierce, terrible (shower of weapons) (terrible, fierce, dreadful)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of ghora

ghora - terrible, dreadful, fierce, frightful

From root 'ghūr' (to move violently, tremble).

Root: ghūr (class 1)

Note: Describes 'śastrābhivarṣaṇam'.

मेघानाम् (meghānām) - of clouds

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, plural of megha

megha - cloud, mass of clouds

From root 'mih' (to sprinkle, urinate).

Root: mih (class 1)

Note: Used with 'iva' for comparison.

इव (iva) - like (like, as, as if)

(indeclinable)

Particle expressing comparison.

संयुगे (saṁyuge) - in the battle (in battle, in conflict)

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of saṃyuga

saṁyuga - battle, war, combat, encounter

From prefix 'sam' (with, together) + root 'yuj' (to join).

Prefix: sam

Root: yuj (class 7)

Note: Locative of place/time.