Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 103, Shloka 14

ऐन्द्ररथप्रदानम्

Indra’s Chariot Offered to Rāma; The Duel Intensifies

Devanagari script

अब्रवीच्चतदारामंसप्रतोदोरथेस्थितः ।प्राञ्जलिर्मातलिर्वाक्यंसहस्राक्षस्यसारथिः ।।।।

Transliteration

abravīc ca tadā rāmaṃ sapratodo rathasthitaḥ |

prāñjalir mātalir vākyaṃ sahasrākṣasya sārathiḥ ||

Translation

Da sprach Mātali, der Wagenlenker des Tausendäugigen (Indra), auf dem Wagen stehend und die Peitsche in der Hand, zu Rāma, die Hände ehrfürchtig gefaltet.

Word by Word

• अब्रवीत्: spoke
• अब्रवीत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• तदा: then
• तदा: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• रामम्: to Rāma
• रामम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• स-प्रतोदः: holding the whip/goad
• स-प्रतोदः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्ग-सदृश) + प्रतोद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); उपपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘प्रतोदेन सह’ = ‘holding the whip/goad’

• रथे: in/on the chariot
• रथे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• स्थितः: seated/standing
• स्थितः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थित (कृदन्त; √स्था धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); भूतकृदन्त (past participle) = ‘standing/seated’

• प्राञ्जलिः: with joined palms
• प्राञ्जलिः: क्रियाविशेषण/भाव (Manner)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); ‘joined palms’ (gesture)

• मातलिः: Mātali
• मातलिः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वाक्यम्: words, a statement
• वाक्यम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• सहस्राक्षस्य: of the thousand-eyed (Indra)
• सहस्राक्षस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्राक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular); बहुव्रीहि: ‘सहस्रम् अक्षाणि यस्य’ = ‘thousand-eyed’ (Indra)

• सारथिः: charioteer
• सारथिः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सारथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); मातलिः इत्यस्य अप्पोजिशन्

Context

Then the thousand eyed charioteer, holding the whip in hand, from the chariot, offered salutations with folded palms to Sri Rama and spoke these words.

Characters & Entities

• Mātali
• Rāma
• Sahasrākṣa (Indra)

FAQs

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

Maryādā (proper conduct): even a divine emissary approaches a righteous king with humility and respect, showing dharma is upheld through courteous, truthful speech and reverent demeanor.

What is the narrative situation?

Mātali formally greets Rāma and begins conveying Indra’s message and gifts.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vinaya (humility) and satya-oriented communication: respectful address frames truthful transmission of a divine commission.