Shloka 29

अष्टत्रिंशः सर्गः — मारीचोपदेशः

Maricha’s Warning and the Memory of Rama’s Power

Devanagari script

शरजालपरिक्षिप्तामग्निज्वालासमावृताम्।प्रदग्धभवनां लङ्कां द्रक्ष्यसि त्वं न संशयः।।3.38.29।।

Transliteration

śarajālaparikṣiptām agnijvālāsamāvṛtām | pradagdhabhavanāṃ laṅkāṃ drakṣyasi tvaṃ na saṃśayaḥ || 3.38.29 ||

Translation

لا ريب أنك سترى لَنْكَا: مطروحةً عليها شبكةٌ من السهام، مطوَّقةً بألسنة النار، وقد احترقت بيوتها وتلظّت.

Word by Word

• śara-jāla-parikṣiptām: encircled by a net of arrows
• śara-jāla-parikṣiptām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक) + jāla (प्रातिपदिक) + parikṣipta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: 'surrounded/covered by a net of arrows'; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; adjective qualifying 'laṅkām'

• agni-jvālā-samāvṛtām: covered by fire-flames
• agni-jvālā-samāvṛtām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक) + jvālā (प्रातिपदिक) + samāvṛta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: 'enveloped by flames of fire'; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; adjective qualifying 'laṅkām'

• pradagdha-bhavanām: with buildings burned
• pradagdha-bhavanām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-dah (धातु) + pradagdha (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + bhavana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: 'having buildings burnt'; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; adjective qualifying 'laṅkām'

• laṅkām: Lanka
• laṅkām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: laṅkā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• drakṣyasi: you will see
• drakṣyasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• na: not/no
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• saṃśayaḥ: doubt
• saṃśayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (nominal predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃśaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; idiom 'na saṃśayaḥ'

Context

You will undoubtedly see Lanka filled with arrows, surrounded by flames of fire and its buildings on fire.

Characters & Entities

• Mārīca
• Rāvaṇa
• Laṅkā
• śara (arrows)
• agni (fire)

FAQs

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

Unrighteous desire and aggression invite collective ruin; adharma does not remain private but consumes an entire polity (here, Laṅkā).

What is the narrative situation?

Mārīca describes the catastrophic outcome awaiting Rāvaṇa—Laṅkā overwhelmed by battle and fire—if he provokes Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Truthful warning (satya-vacana) aligned with dharma: Mārīca speaks plainly about consequences rather than flattering power.