Shloka 35

Devanagari script

स रथो राक्षसेन्द्रस्य नक्षत्रपथगो महान्।सञ्चार्यमाणश्शुशुभे जलदे चन्द्रमा इव।।3.31.35।।

Transliteration

sa ratho rākṣasendrasya nakṣatra-pathago mahān |

sañcāryamāṇaḥ śuśubhe jalade candramā iva || 3.31.35 ||

Translation

Jener große Wagen des Königs der Rākṣasas, der auf der Sternenbahn des Himmels dahinzog, glänzte wie der Mond inmitten von Wolken.

Word by Word

• saḥ: that/he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• rathaḥ: chariot
• rathaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (रथ-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• rākṣasa-indrasya: of the lord of demons
• rākṣasa-indrasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (राक्षस-प्रातिपदिक) + indra (इन्द्र-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (राक्षसानाम् इन्द्रः); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• nakṣatra-pathagaḥ: moving in the star-path (sky)
• nakṣatra-pathagaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nakṣatra (नक्षत्र-प्रातिपदिक) + patha (पथ-प्रातिपदिक) + ga (ग-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (नक्षत्राणां पथः = आकाशः; तत्र गः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• mahān: great
• mahān: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (महत्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• sañcāryamāṇaḥ: as it was being driven
• sañcāryamāṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√car (चर्)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त, कर्मणि-प्रयोग; शानच्/मान-प्रत्ययान्त (passive present participle) पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘being driven/moving about’

• śuśubhe: shone
• śuśubhe: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śubh (शुभ्)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• jalade: in the cloud
• jalade: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jalada (जलद-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘in the cloud’

• candramāḥ: the moon
• candramāḥ: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: candramas (चन्द्रमस्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• iva: like
• iva: Upamana-marker (उपमासूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय (like/as)

Context

The great chariot of the demon king (Ravana) flying in the sky shone like the Moon in the cloud.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Chariot
• Sky (nakṣatra-patha)
• Moon (candramā)
• Cloud (jalada)

FAQs

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

The imagery cautions that beauty and grandeur can mask unrighteous aims; dharma requires discernment beyond appearances.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa’s aerial travel is described as he proceeds toward Mārīca’s hermitage.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse emphasizes magnificence and capability (power/majesty), not moral virtue.