Shloka 39

अकम्पनवृत्तान्तः

Akampana Reports Janasthana; Ravana Plans Sita’s Abduction

Devanagari script

एवमुक्तो महातेजा मारीचेन स रावणः।ततः पश्चादिदं वाक्यमब्रवीद्वाक्यकोविदः।।3.31.39।।

Transliteration

evam ukto mahātejā mārīcena sa rāvaṇaḥ |

tataḥ paścād idaṃ vākyam abravīd vākya-kovidaḥ || 3.31.39 ||

Translation

So von Mārīca angesprochen, erwiderte der strahlende Rāvaṇa, der der Rede kundig war, darauf mit folgenden Worten.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus/in this way
• एवम्: Kriya-Visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• उक्तः: having been addressed
• उक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘having been spoken to/addressed’

• महातेजाः: the mighty/glorious one
• महातेजाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• मारीचेन: by Maricha
• मारीचेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मारीच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन (Instr sg)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom sg)

• रावणः: Ravana
• रावणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom sg)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-Visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (then/thereafter)

• पश्चात्: later
• पश्चात्: Kriya-Visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (afterwards)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc sg)

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

• अब्रवीत्: said/spoke
• अब्रवीत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वाक्य-कोविदः: skilled in speech
• वाक्य-कोविदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक) + कोविद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; विशेषणम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘वाक्येषु कोविदः’

Context

Having thus been asked by Maricha, glorious Ravana, who was eloquent in speech, spoke to him :

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Mārīca

FAQs

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

It underscores that eloquence is ethically neutral: dharma requires that skill in speech be aligned with satya and right intention.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration transitions from Mārīca’s greeting to Rāvaṇa’s response.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Oratorical skill (vāk-cāturya), presented as capability rather than moral virtue.