Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 69, Shloka 14

त्रिशिरा-प्रबोधनम् तथा नरान्तक-वधः

Trisira’s Counsel and the Slaying of Naranthaka

Devanagari script

सतैस्तथाभास्करतुल्यवर्चसैःपुस्त्रैर्वृतश्शत्रुबलप्रमार्दनैः ।रराजराजामघवान्यथामरै ।र्वृतोमहादानवदर्पनाशनैः ।।।।

Transliteration

satais tathā bhāskaratulyavarcasaiḥ putrair vṛtaḥ śatrubalapramārdanaiḥ | rarāja rājā maghavān yathā marair vṛto mahādānavadarpanāśanaiḥ || 6.69.14 ||

Translation

Surrounded by hundreds of sons radiant like the sun and capable of crushing enemy forces, the king (Rāvaṇa) shone—like Indra encircled by the immortals, destroyers of the pride of great Dānavas.

Word by Word

• sutaiḥ: by/with sons
• sutaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• tathā: thus
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (thus/so)

• bhāskaratulya-varcasaiḥ: with sons of sun-like splendor
• bhāskaratulya-varcasaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhāskara (प्रातिपदिक) + tulya (प्रातिपदिक) + varcas (वर्चस्, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (whose splendor is like the sun); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of sutaiḥ/putraiḥ)

• putraiḥ: with sons
• putraiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; sutaiḥ इत्यस्य पुनरुक्ति/पर्याय

• vṛtaḥ: surrounded
• vṛtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛ (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (Past passive participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of rājā)

• śatrubala-pramārdanaiḥ: with those who crush the enemy forces
• śatrubala-pramārdanaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śatru (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक) + pramārdana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: शत्रूणां बलस्य प्रमार्दनैः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of sons)

• rarāja: shone
• rarāja: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: rāj (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• maghavān: Maghavān (Indra)
• maghavān: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maghavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपमान (standard of comparison)

• yathā: as, like
• yathā: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमासूचक/यथार्थक

• amaraiḥ: by/with immortals (gods)
• amaraiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• vṛtaḥ: surrounded
• vṛtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛ (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (Past passive participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (again 'surrounded')

• mahādānava-darpa-nāśanaiḥ: with destroyers of the pride of great Dānavas
• mahādānava-darpa-nāśanaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + dānava (प्रातिपदिक) + darpa (प्रातिपदिक) + nāśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: महादानवानां दर्पस्य नाशनैः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of amaraiḥ/sons as surrounders)

Context

Surrounded by his sons, who matched Sun in brilliance and capable of crushing the pride of foes, great in destroying immortals, Ravana shone like Lord gods.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Maghavān (Indra)
• Amaras (immortals)
• Dānavas
• Rāvaṇa’s sons

FAQs

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

The verse illustrates how external splendor and powerful retinues can resemble divine majesty; dharma asks the reader to judge by conduct and truth, not by display.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa is depicted in royal grandeur, surrounded by his mighty sons, as the battle effort is organized.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Regal authority and command—though the epic’s ethical lens cautions that authority becomes virtue only when exercised in dharma.