Shloka 17

रावण-सारथि-संवादः

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

Devanagari script

निमित्तानि च भूयिष्ठंयानिप्रादुर्भवन्तिनः ।तेषुतेष्वभिपन्नेषुलक्ष्याम्यप्रदक्षिणम् ।।।।

Transliteration

nimittāni ca bhūyiṣṭhaṃ yāni prādurbhavanti naḥ |

teṣu teṣv abhipanneṣu lakṣyāmy apradakṣiṇam ||

Translation

Und die vielen Vorzeichen, die uns immer wieder erscheinen—bei jedem von ihnen sehe ich, dass sie sich als widrig erweisen und ins Unheilvolle wenden.

Word by Word

• निमित्तानि: omens, portents
• निमित्तानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निमित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

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

• भूयिष्ठम्: mostly, in great measure
• भूयिष्ठम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूयिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial accusative: ‘mostly/very much’)

• यानि: which
• यानि: Karta (कर्ता) (relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘निमित्तानि’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• प्रादुर्भवन्ति: appear, manifest
• प्रादुर्भवन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रादुस् + भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• नः: for us / our
• नः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध) बहुवचन (our) / दत्तिविकल्पे चतुर्थी (to us); अत्र सम्बन्धे

• तेषु: in those
• तेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), बहुवचन

• तेषु: again in those
• तेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; पुनरुक्ति (repetition for emphasis)

• अभिपन्नेषु: when (they) have occurred
• अभिपन्नेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि + पद् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; ‘तेषु’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (when those have occurred/been encountered)

• लक्ष्यामि: I observe, I notice
• लक्ष्यामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अप्रदक्षिणम्: inauspicious (moving leftward/contrary)
• अप्रदक्षिणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप्रदक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘लक्ष्यामि’ इत्यस्य कर्म (what is observed)

Context

"Those portents manifesting again and again, that I am seeing, all of them are in the reverse direction (meaning not proptitious)."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma includes attentiveness to truth revealed through signs and consequences; ignoring repeated warnings (nimitta) is ethically and practically reckless.

What is the narrative situation?

In the battlefield context, Rāvaṇa notices recurring ill omens and interprets them as unfavorable indicators for his side.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discernment (viveka) is implied—though in Rāvaṇa it appears as momentary recognition of danger rather than sustained righteous restraint.