Shloka 9

पञ्चदशः सर्गः — देवकृत-प्रार्थना, रावणवधोपायः, विष्णोः मानुषावतारनियोजनम्

Sarga 15: The Devas’ Petition, the Means to Slay Ravana, and Vishnu’s Commission to Incarnate as Man

Devanagari script

ऋषीन्यक्षान्सगन्धर्वानसुरान्ब्राह्मणांस्तथा।अतिक्रामति दुर्धर्षो वरदानेन मोहित:।।1.15.9।।

Transliteration

ṛṣīn yakṣān sagandharvān asurān brāhmaṇāṃs tathā |

atikrāmati durdharṣo varadānena mohitaḥ ||1.15.9||

Translation

مخدوعٌ بعطية النِّعَم متكبّرٌ بها، ذلك العسير القهر يتجاوز كلَّ حدّ: على الرِّشيّين، والياكشا، والغاندهرفا، والآسورا، وحتى البراهمة.

Word by Word

• ṛṣīn: sages
• ṛṣīn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahu-vacana

• yakṣān: Yakṣas
• yakṣān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahu-vacana

• sa-gandharvān: together with Gandharvas
• sa-gandharvān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa + gandharva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahu-vacana; avyayībhāva: sa (with) + gandharvān

• asurān: Asuras
• asurān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahu-vacana

• brāhmaṇān: Brahmins
• brāhmaṇān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahu-vacana

• tathā: and also
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction/adverb ‘also/and’

• atikrāmati: transgresses/oversteps
• atikrāmati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ati-kram (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra, Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa, Eka-vacana

• durdharṣaḥ: the unassailable one
• durdharṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dur-dharṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana; karmadhāraya: dur (hard) + dharṣa (assailable) → ‘unassailable’

• vara-dānena: because of the boon-gift
• vara-dānena: Hetu (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara + dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Tṛtīyā, Eka-vacana; tatpuruṣa: varasya dānam (granting of boons)

• mohitaḥ: deluded/intoxicated (with pride)
• mohitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: muh (धातु)
• Form: Kta (क्त) past passive participle; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana; predicate adjective of durdharṣaḥ

Context

Because of your boon he has become unassailable and puffed with pride deties sages, yakshas, gandharvas, demons and brahmins.

Characters & Entities

• Ravana
• Rishis
• Yakshas
• Gandharvas
• Asuras
• Brahmanas

FAQs

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

Boons and power are meant to support dharma; when pride blinds one into crossing limits—especially against sages and Brāhmaṇas—it becomes adharma requiring correction.

What is the narrative situation?

The gods detail Rāvaṇa’s lawlessness across communities of beings, emphasizing that his arrogance stems from boon-induced invincibility.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverence toward the righteous (ṛṣis, brāhmaṇas) as a marker of dharma; violating them signals moral collapse.