Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 27, Shloka 24

त्रिजटास्वप्नवर्णनम्

Trijata’s Dream-Omens and the Rakshasis’ Reversal

Devanagari script

रथेन खरयुक्तेन रक्तमाल्यानुलेपनः।पिपंस्तैलं हसन्नृत्यन् भ्रान्तचित्ताकुलेन्द्रियः।।5.27.24।।

Transliteration

rathena kharayuktena raktamālyānulepanaḥ |

pipaṁs tailaṁ hasan nṛtyan bhrāntacittākulendriyaḥ ||5.27.24||

Translation

كان على مركبةٍ تجرّها الحمير، متزيّنًا بأكاليل حمراء ومطيّبًا بالأدهان؛ يشرب الزيت ويضحك ويرقص، وقد اضطرب عقله واختلّت حواسّه.

Word by Word

• rathena: by/with a chariot
• rathena: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• khara-yuktena: yoked to donkeys
• khara-yuktena: Visheshana (विशेषण of rathena)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: khara (प्रातिपदिक) + yukta (युज् धातु, क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘खरैः युक्तः’ (yoked with donkeys); पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक तृतीया, एकवचन (agreeing with rathena)

• rakta-mālya-anulepanaḥ: wearing red garlands and unguents
• rakta-mālya-anulepanaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण of implied rāvaṇaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rakta (प्रातिपदिक) + mālya (प्रातिपदिक) + anulepana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार-द्वन्द्व/समुच्चयार्थ: ‘रक्तमाल्यं च अनुलेपनं च यस्य’ (having red garlands and unguents); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• piban: drinking
• piban: Karta (कर्ता; participial action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pā (धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tailam: oil
• tailam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: taila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• hasan: laughing
• hasan: Karta (कर्ता; concomitant action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: has (धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• nṛtyan: dancing
• nṛtyan: Karta (कर्ता; concomitant action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nṛt (धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• bhrānta-citta-ākula-indriyaḥ: with confused mind and agitated senses
• bhrānta-citta-ākula-indriyaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण of implied rāvaṇaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhrānta (भ्रम् धातु, क्त) + citta (प्रातिपदिक) + ākula (प्रातिपदिक) + indriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास: ‘भ्रान्तं चित्तं, आकुलानि इन्द्रियाणि यस्य’ (whose mind is confused and senses are agitated); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

"I saw the demon king Ravana running behind the chariot driven by donkeys in the southerly direction. He was falling with his head bent down and deluded by the fear of the donkey.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• ratha (chariot)
• khara (donkeys)

FAQs

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

Loss of self-mastery (indriya-nigraha) is shown as a mark of adharma. Dharma is sustained by disciplined senses and a clear mind.

What is the narrative situation?

Trijaṭā describes a grotesque dream-image of Rāvaṇa behaving irrationally, signaling ruin and dishonor.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s inner steadiness is contrasted with Rāvaṇa’s disordered state; steadfast virtue remains composed amid threats.