Shloka 16

मारीचोपदेशः — Maricha’s Counsel to Ravana

On Rama’s Dharma and the Peril of Abduction

Devanagari script

धनुर्व्यादितदीप्तास्यं शरार्चिषममर्षणम्।चापबाणधरं तीक्ष्णं शत्रुसैन्यप्रहारिणम्।।।।राज्यं सुखं च सन्त्यज्य जीवितं चेष्टमात्मनः।नात्यासादयितुं तात रामान्तकमिहार्हसि।।।।

Transliteration

dhanur-vyādita-dīptāsyaṃ śarārciṣam amarṣaṇam | cāpa-bāṇa-dharaṃ tīkṣṇaṃ śatru-sainya-prahāriṇam || rājyaṃ sukhaṃ ca santyajya jīvitaṃ ceṣṭam ātmanaḥ | nātyāsādayituṃ tāta rāmāntakam ihārhasi ||

Translation

Mein Lieber, gib nicht dein Reich und dein Glück preis, ja nicht einmal dein teures Leben, um dich hier Rāma zu nähern—der dem Tod selbst gleicht—dessen Bogen wie ein flammend aufgerissener Rachen ist, dessen Pfeile Feuer sind, der im Zorn furchtbar, in der Kraft scharf und ein Vernichter feindlicher Heere ist.

Word by Word

• धनुः-व्यादित-दीप्त-आस्यम्: one whose mouth is a blazing opened bow
• धनुः-व्यादित-दीप्त-आस्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धनुस् + व्यादित (√व्यद्/व्याद्, कृदन्त) + दीप्त (√दीप्, कृदन्त) + आस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—यस्य धनुः व्यादितं दीप्तं च आस्यं (whose mouth is a blazing opened bow)

• शर-अर्चिषम्: having flames of arrows
• शर-अर्चिषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्चिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः/उपपद-तत्पुरुषः—शराणाम् अर्चिः यस्य (having arrow-flames)

• अमर्षणम्: wrathful
• अमर्षणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमर्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (wrathful/irascible)

• चाप-बाण-धरम्: wielder of bow and arrows
• चाप-बाण-धरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चाप (प्रातिपदिक) + बाण (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (√धृ, कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः—चापं बाणं च धरति इति (bow-and-arrow bearer)

• तीक्ष्णम्: sharp, fierce
• तीक्ष्णम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• शत्रु-सैन्य-प्रहारिणम्: one who strikes the enemy army
• शत्रु-सैन्य-प्रहारिणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक) + सैन्य (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रहारिन् (√हृ/√हन्? प्र-√हृ/प्र-√हन्, कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—शत्रूणां सैन्यं प्रहरति इति (striker of the enemy army)

Context

You should not give up happiness,your dear life and kingdom and come to Rama who is a variable god of death. His bow is like on open burning mouth, and his flaming arrows are like fire. He is all anger. He is wielder of bow and arrows. He can strike the enemy army (alone).

Characters & Entities

• Mārīca
• Rāvaṇa
• Rāma
• Yama (implicit via 'Death')
• bow
• arrows

FAQs

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

Wrongful desire leads to the loss of life, joy, and sovereignty; dharma urges renunciation of adharma even when temptation is strong.

What is the narrative situation?

Mārīca intensifies his warning, portraying Rāma as an unstoppable force of destruction for those who commit injustice.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s righteous ferocity in protecting dharma, and Mārīca’s frank, preventive counsel.