Shloka 1

मारीचोपदेशः — Maricha’s Counsel to Ravana

On Rama’s Dharma and the Peril of Abduction

Devanagari script

तच्छृत्वा राक्षसेन्द्रस्य वाक्यं वाक्यविशारदः।प्रत्युवाच महाप्राज्ञो मारीचो राक्षसेश्वरम्।।।।

Transliteration

tac chrutvā rākṣasendrasya vākyaṃ vākyaviśāradaḥ | pratyuvāca mahāprājño mārīco rākṣaseśvaram ||

Translation

Als er die Worte des Herrn der rākṣasas vernahm, erwiderte der hochweise Mārīca, kundig in der Rede, dem Rāvaṇa, dem Herrscher der Dämonen.

Word by Word

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifying vākyaṃ

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), avyaya-kṛdanta

• rākṣasa-indrasya: of the lord of demons
• rākṣasa-indrasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: 'lord of rākṣasas'; Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• vākyam: speech/words
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; object of śrutvā

• vākya-viśāradaḥ: eloquent
• vākya-viśāradaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक) + viśārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: 'skilled in speech'; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• pratyuvāca: replied
• pratyuvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati + √vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (Perfect), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa, Singular

• mahā-prājñaḥ: very wise
• mahā-prājñaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + prājña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: 'very wise'; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• mārīcaḥ: Maricha
• mārīcaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārīca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; apposition to adjectives

• rākṣasa-īśvaram: to the demon-lord
• rākṣasa-īśvaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: 'lord of demons'; Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Context

Having heard the words of Ravana, lord of the demons, wise Maricha who was also an eloquent speaker replied:

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Mārīca

FAQs

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

Dharma includes wise counsel and responsible speech—especially when addressing power; the scene frames counsel as a moral act with consequences.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa speaks to Mārīca; Mārīca, known for eloquence, begins his reply.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prājñā (wisdom) and vāg-nīti (ethical, skillful speech).