Shloka 22

रावण-सारथि-संवादः

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

Devanagari script

स्वेच्छयान मयावीररथोऽयमपवाहितः ।भर्तृस्नेहपरीतेनमयेदंयत्कृतंप्रभो ।।।।

Transliteration

svecchayā na mayā vīra ratho 'yam apavāhitaḥ |

bhartṛ-sneha-parītena mayedaṃ yat kṛtaṃ prabho ||

Translation

O Held, mein Herr – dieser Wagen wurde nicht aus bloßer Laune von mir zurückgezogen; was ich tat, geschah aus Hingabe und Zuneigung zu meinem Meister.

Word by Word

• svecchayā: by (my) own will
• svecchayā: Karana (करण) (by/through own will)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva-icchā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: sva + icchā = 'one's own will'

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

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

• vīra: O hero
• vīra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• rathaḥ: chariot
• rathaḥ: Karma (कर्म) (subject of passive: 'the chariot')
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• ayam: this
• ayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) (demonstrative for rathaḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• apavāhitaḥ: was withdrawn/driven away
• apavāhitaḥ: Vidheyabhāva (विधेयभाव)
• Type: Verb
• Root: apa-√vah (वह्) + ta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); 'was driven away/withdrawn'

• bhartṛsnehaparītena: by one filled with affection for the master
• bhartṛsnehaparītena: Karana (करण) (motive/cause as instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhartṛ-sneha-parīta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); compound: bhartṛ + sneha (tatpurusha) + parīta (kta from √pṛ 'to fill/surround') meaning 'filled with affection for the master'

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

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म) (object of kṛtam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• yat: which/that
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun correlating with idam

• kṛtam: done
• kṛtam: Vidheyabhāva (विधेयभाव)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ) + ta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन) agreeing with yat/idam

• prabho: O lord
• prabho: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

"Heroic Lord! I have not brought back this chariot independently (without thinking). I have acted in friendliness to the master (to give rest) not otherwise."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• charioteer (sārathi/sūta)
• chariot (ratha)

FAQs

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

Dharma weighs intention (bhāva) alongside action; faithful service aims at the master’s welfare, not personal caprice.

What is the narrative situation?

The charioteer clarifies that the withdrawal was motivated by loyal concern, not disobedience or fear.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Bhakti-like fidelity in service—steadfast loyalty expressed through protective judgment.