Shloka 24

रावण-सारथि-संवादः

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

Devanagari script

सन्तुष्टस्तेनवाक्येनरावणस्तस्यसारथेः ।प्रशस्यैनंबहुविधंयुद्धलुब्धोऽब्रवीदिदम् ।।।।

Transliteration

santuṣṭas tena vākyena rāvaṇas tasya sāratheḥ |

praśasya enaṃ bahuvidhaṃ yuddha-lubdho 'bravīd idam ||

Translation

Von den Worten seines Wagenlenkers erfreut, pries Rāvaṇa ihn auf vielerlei Weise; und kampfbegierig sprach er wie folgt.

Word by Word

• santuṣṭaḥ: satisfied
• santuṣṭaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier of rāvaṇaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-√tuṣ (तुष्) + ta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle used adjectivally (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• tena: by that
• tena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग) / Masculine context-neutral, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vākyena: by the words/speech
• vākyena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• rāvaṇaḥ: Ravana
• rāvaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• tasya: of him/that
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• sāratheḥ: of the charioteer
• sāratheḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sārathi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• praśasya: having praised
• praśasya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√śaṃs (शंस्)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय in lyap form) = 'having praised' (ल्यप्)

• enam: him
• enam: Karma (कर्म) (object of praśasya/abruvīt)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• bahuvidham: in many ways
• bahuvidham: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahuvidha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); karmadhāraya: bahu + vidha = 'many kinds' (adverbial accusative: 'in many ways')

• yuddhalubdhaḥ: eager for battle
• yuddhalubdhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier of rāvaṇaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yuddha-lubdha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); tatpurusha: yuddha + lubdha = 'greedy for battle'

• abravīt: said/spoke
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (ब्रू)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

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

Context

Ravana was fully satisfied with the words of the charioteer. He praised the charioteer in many ways and spoke like this desiring to wage war.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• charioteer (sārathi/sūta)

FAQs

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

A ruler should recognize loyal, competent service; appreciation can restore harmony after anger—though true dharma also requires right aims.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration marks a shift: Rāvaṇa’s anger softens, he praises his charioteer, and prepares to reengage in battle.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Recognition and fairness toward subordinates (though coupled here with Rāvaṇa’s continued battle-obsession).