Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 1

महापार्श्वस्य परामर्शः

Mahāpārśva’s Counsel and Rāvaṇa’s Confession of Brahmā’s Curse

Devanagari script

रावणंक्रुद्धमाज्ञायमहापार्श्वोमहाबलः ।मुहूर्तमनुसञ्चिन्त्यप्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यमब्रवीत् ।।।।

Transliteration

rāvaṇaṃ kruddham ājñāya mahāpārśvo mahābalaḥ |

muhūrtam anusañcintya prāñjalir vākyam abravīt ||

Translation

فلما أدرك مهابارشفا (Mahāpārśva) شديدُ البأس أن رافانا (Rāvaṇa) قد استبدّ به الغضب، تفكّر هنيهة، ثم ضمّ كفّيه بخشوع وقال هذه الكلمات.

Word by Word

• रावणम्: Ravana
• रावणम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• क्रुद्धम्: angry
• क्रुद्धम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रुध् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; रावणम् इति विशेषण

• आज्ञाय: having understood
• आज्ञाय: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त अव्यय (Gerund), पूर्वकाल (having known)

• महापार्श्वः: Mahaparsva
• महापार्श्वः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महापार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; महा+पार्श्व (नाम)

• महाबलः: mighty/very strong
• महाबलः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; महा+बल; महापार्श्वः इति विशेषण

• मुहूर्तम्: for a moment
• मुहूर्तम्: कालाधिकरण (Kāla-adhikaraṇa/Temporal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुहूर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; काल-अवधि (time-span)

• अनुसञ्चिन्त्य: having thought over
• अनुसञ्चिन्त्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चिन्त् (धातु) + अनु-सम्- + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त अव्यय (Gerund), पूर्वकाल (having reflected/considered)

• प्राञ्जलिः: with folded palms
• प्राञ्जलिः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भावविशेषण (with folded hands)

• वाक्यम्: words/speech
• वाक्यम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said/spoke
• अब्रवीत्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Context

Having realized that Ravana has become angry, Mahaparsva of extraordinary strength, thinking of pleasing him for a while greeting him with folded palms, spoke.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Mahāpārśva

FAQs

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

Dharma in counsel involves restraint and wise speech: before addressing power, one reflects, approaches respectfully, and speaks with deliberation rather than provoking further harm.

What is the narrative situation?

In Laṅkā, Mahāpārśva notices Rāvaṇa’s anger and prepares to speak, setting the tone for a courtly address.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Composure and prudence—Mahāpārśva pauses to think and uses respectful posture before speaking.