Shloka 12

रावण-सारथि-संवादः

Ravana and the Charioteer: Counsel, Omens, and Battlefield Conduct

Devanagari script

मयातुहितकामेवयशश्चपरिरक्षता ।स्नेहप्रसन्नमनसाहितमित्यप्रियंकृतम् ।।।।

Transliteration

mayā tu hitakāmena vai yaśaś ca parirakṣatā | sneha-prasanna-manasā hitam ity apriyaṃ kṛtam ||

Translation

„Doch ich—dein Wohl begehrend und deinen Ruhm bewahrend—mit einem durch Zuneigung und Wohlwollen besänftigten Sinn, tat, was ich für heilsam hielt, auch wenn es dir missfiel.“

Word by Word

• मया: by me
• मया: Karta (कर्ता) (agent in passive sense with ‘कृतम्’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/कर्ता-हेतु), एकवचन

• तु: indeed, however
• तु: Sambandha (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधानार्थक निपात

• हितकामेन: wishing (your) welfare
• हितकामेन: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हित + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (हितं कामयते इति/हितस्य कामः); पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of ‘मया’)

• यशः: fame, honor
• यशः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यशस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; अत्र ‘परिरक्षता’ इत्यस्य कर्म (object)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• परिरक्षता: while protecting
• परिरक्षता: Karta (कर्ता) (agent-participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + रक्ष् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘मया’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• स्नेहप्रसन्नमनसा: with a mind made pleasant by affection
• स्नेहप्रसन्नमनसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्नेह + प्रसन्न + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (स्नेहेन प्रसन्नं मनः यस्य/स्नेहप्रसन्नं मनः); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of ‘मया’)

• हितम्: (thinking) ‘benefit’
• हितम्: Karma (कर्म) (content of thought)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘इति’ इत्यनेन उद्धृतवाक्यांशः

• इति: thus, saying/thinking
• इति: Sambandha (उद्धरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरणार्थक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• अप्रियम्: something unpleasant
• अप्रियम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘कृतम्’ इत्यस्य कर्म

• कृतम्: was done
• कृतम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; निष्पन्नकर्मवाचक (it was done)

Context

Wishing your welfare, for your fame and to protect you with a friendly and pleasant feeling I did that which is good for you. You are unpleasant about this action.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma values ‘hita’ over mere ‘priya’: what is truly beneficial may feel unpleasant, yet wise service speaks and acts for welfare and lasting honor (yaśas).

What is the narrative situation?

The charioteer explains that his actions were motivated by loyalty and the desire to protect Rāvaṇa’s reputation, even if Rāvaṇa disliked them.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Benevolent counsel—placing the leader’s long-term good above momentary approval.