Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 17

युद्धकाण्डे द्वादशः सर्गः — रावणस्य परिषद्-सम्बोधनं कुम्भकर्णस्य नीत्युपदेशश्च

Ravana’s Council Address and Kumbhakarna’s Counsel

Devanagari script

क्रोधहर्षसमानेनदुर्वर्णकरणेनच ।।6.12.17।।शोकसन्तापनित्येनकामेनकलुषीकृतः ।

Transliteration

krodhaharṣasamānena durvarṇakaraṇena ca |

śokasantāpanityena kāmena kaluṣīkṛtaḥ ||6.12.17||

Translation

Defiled am I by passion—ever accompanied by grief and burning anguish—by that force which makes one pallid and swings alike between anger and exultation.

Word by Word

• क्रोधहर्षसमानेन: equal in anger and joy
• क्रोधहर्षसमानेन: Karana (करण/Instrumental qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रोध + हर्ष + समान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास ‘क्रोधे हर्षे च समान’; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (कामाेन)

• दुर्वर्णकरणेन: causing bad complexion; making pale
• दुर्वर्णकरणेन: Karana (करण/Instrumental qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् + वर्ण + करण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• शोकसन्तापनित्येन: constantly with grief and torment
• शोकसन्तापनित्येन: Karana (करण/Instrumental qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोक + सन्ताप + नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास ‘शोके सन्तापे च नित्य’; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• कामेन: by desire; by passion
• कामेन: Karana (करण/Instrument/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• कलुषीकृतः: was tainted; was disturbed
• कलुषीकृतः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predication)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कलुषी + √कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: णिच्-प्रयोग (causative stem) implied in ‘कलुषी-कृ’; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त PPP; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय

Context

"Broad-eyed Sita requested me one year time expecting her husband Rama to come (this is a false statement made by Ravana here) and I promised in turn to Sita of beautiful eyes. Just like an exhausted horse that marched I am tired on account of my passion."

Characters & Entities

• Kāma (desire)

FAQs

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

It teaches that unchecked desire brings inner pollution and suffering; dharma is sustained by purity of mind and disciplined emotions.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa articulates the turmoil caused by his passion, acknowledging its destructive emotional oscillations.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The needed virtue is equanimity and restraint; the verse shows how passion destroys steadiness (sthiti) and clarity.