Shloka 21

रावण-सारथि-संवादः

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

Devanagari script

तवविश्रामहेतोस्तुतथैषांरथवाजिनाम् ।रौद्रंवर्जयताखेदंक्षमंकृतमिदंमया ।।।।

Transliteration

tava viśrāma-hetos tu tathaiṣāṃ ratha-vājinām |

raudraṃ varjayatā khedaṃ kṣamaṃ kṛtam idaṃ mayā ||

Translation

Dies tat ich, um dir Ruhe zu gönnen und ebenso, um diese Wagenpferde vor gewaltiger Anstrengung und Erschöpfung zu bewahren; für diese Tat bitte ich um Vergebung.

Word by Word

• tava: your/for you
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) (possessor/for you)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); pronoun

• viśrāmahetoḥ: for (your) rest
• viśrāmahetoḥ: Prayojana (प्रयोजन) (purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśrāma-hetu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); हेतोः = 'for the sake of' (purpose sense)

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) expressing contrast/emphasis

• tathā: thus/in that way
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• eṣām: of these
• eṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन); pronoun

• rathavājinām: of the chariot-horses
• rathavājinām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha-vājin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन); तत्पुरुष: ratha + vājin = 'chariot-horses'

• raudram: fierce/violent (driving)
• raudram: Karma (कर्म) (object of varjayatā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: raudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); used substantively = 'fierce (act/drive)'

• varjayatā: by avoiding
• varjayatā: Karana (करण) (means/circumstance)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛj/√vṛj? actually √vṛj (वृज्) in sense 'to avoid' via causative?; standard verb √vṛj/√vṛj?; here from √vṛj (वर्ज्) 'to avoid' (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमान कृदन्त/शतृ), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग); 'by (me) avoiding'

• khedam: fatigue
• khedam: Karma (कर्म) (object implied: to avoid fatigue)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kheda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• kṣamam: excusable/forgivable
• kṣamam: Vidheyabhāva (विधेयभाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicate adjective to kṛtam idam

• kṛtam: done
• kṛtam: Vidheyabhāva (विधेयभाव)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ) + ta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त/क्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म) (thing done)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Karta (कर्ता) (agent in passive construction)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); pronoun

Context

"The reason for retreating in this way is to give you rest and relieve the horses from the terrible feat and fatigue. I deserve to be excused for this action."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• charioteer (sārathi/sūta)

FAQs

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

Care for dependents and instruments of action (horses, warrior) is part of dharma; compassion and sustainability temper heroic aggression.

What is the narrative situation?

The charioteer defends a retreat/withdrawal as a practical measure to rest Rāvaṇa and the horses, requesting pardon.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Loyal service with empathy—protecting the master’s capacity and the animals’ welfare.