Shloka 8

मारीचप्रलोभनम् / Ravana Solicits Maricha’s Aid

Golden Deer Stratagem

Devanagari script

चतुर्दश सहस्राणि रक्षसामुग्रतेजसाम्।निहतानि शरैस्तीक्ष्णैर्मानुषेण पदातिना।।।।

Transliteration

caturdaśa sahasrāṇi rakṣasām ugratejasām | nihatāni śarais tīkṣṇair mānuṣeṇa padātinā ||

Translation

Vierzehntausend rākṣasas von furchtbarer Glut wurden durch scharfe Pfeile erschlagen — von einem bloßen Menschen, der zu Fuß kämpfte.

Word by Word

• चतुर्दश: fourteen
• चतुर्दश: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्दशन्/चतुर्दश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक (numeral), नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचन-विशेषणवत् (qualifies सहस्राणि)

• सहस्राणि: thousands
• सहस्राणि: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (plural)

• रक्षसाम्: of demons
• रक्षसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (plural)

• उग्र-तेजसाम्: of fierce splendor/ferocious power
• उग्र-तेजसाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उग्र + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (plural); विशेषण (qualifies रक्षसाम्)

• निहतानि: were slain
• निहतानि: Karta (कर्ता/Subject predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + हन् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन (plural)

• शरैः: by arrows
• शरैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन (plural)

• तीक्ष्णैः: sharp
• तीक्ष्णैः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन (plural); विशेषण (qualifies शरैः)

• मानुषेण: by a human
• मानुषेण: Kartr-karana (कर्तृ-करण/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (singular)

• पदातिना: by a foot-soldier (fighting on foot)
• पदातिना: Kartr-karana (कर्तृ-करण/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पदाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (singular)

Context

Being a human being who fought on foot, he killed fourteen thousand ferocious demons with his sharp arrows.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Rākṣasas
• Arrows

FAQs

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

Dharma protects the vulnerable: Rāma’s human form underscores that righteousness, when resolute, can overcome overwhelming violence.

What is the narrative situation?

The verse summarizes the scale of Rāma’s victory over the Janasthāna rākṣasa host.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage and steadfastness in duty—Rāma stands firm without reliance on an army or chariot.