Shloka 23

रावण-सारथि-संवादः

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

Devanagari script

आज्ञापययथातत्त्वंवक्ष्यस्यरिनिषूदन ।तत्करिष्याम्यहंवीरगतानृण्येनचेतसा ।।।।

Transliteration

ājñāpaya yathā tattvaṃ vakṣyasy ari-niṣūdana |

tat kariṣyāmy ahaṃ vīra gatānṛṇyena cetasā ||

Translation

Befiehl mir, wie du es wahrhaftig entscheidest, o Vernichter der Feinde; das werde ich ausführen, o Held, mit einem Geist frei von Vorbehalten und vollkommen engagiert.

Word by Word

• ājñāpaya: command/order
• ājñāpaya: Kriyā (क्रिया) (main verb: command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jñā (ज्ञा) causative ājñāpay (णिच्)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• yathā: as/how
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/conjunction (यथार्थ/प्रकारवाचक अव्यय)

• tattvam: truly/correctly
• tattvam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); adverbial accusative 'truly/in accordance with reality'

• vakṣyasi: you will say
• vakṣyasi: Kriyā (क्रिया) (relative to command: 'you will say')
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच्)
• Form: Future (लृट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• ari-niṣūdana: O slayer of enemies
• ari-niṣūdana: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ari-niṣūdana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: ari (enemy) + niṣūdana (slayer)

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म) (object of kariṣyāmi)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• kariṣyāmi: I will do
• kariṣyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ)
• Form: Future (लृट्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

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

• gatānṛṇyena: with a sense of having discharged obligation
• gatānṛṇyena: Karana (करण) (manner/mental state)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gata-ānṛṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग) or Masculine? here Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); compound: gata (gone) + ānṛṇya (freedom from debt/obligation) = 'with a mind free of obligation/debt' (used adverbially)

• cetasā: with (my) mind/heart
• cetasā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cetas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

"O Tamer of enemies! Order now and in that way, I shall carry out your order in accordance with you wholeheartedly."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• charioteer (sārathi/sūta)

FAQs

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

Role-based dharma includes disciplined compliance after counsel is given; once the leader decides, the servant executes without inner duplicity.

What is the narrative situation?

After explaining his motives, the charioteer reaffirms readiness to follow Rāvaṇa’s orders wholeheartedly.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Integrity in service—aligning speech, intention, and action in obedience.