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Shloka 6

रावण-सारथि-संवादः

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

प्रख्यातवीर्यस्यरञ्जनीयस्यविक्रमैः ।पश्यतोयुद्धलुब्धोऽहंकृतंकापुरुषस्त्वया ।।।।

prakhyātavīryasya rañjanīyasya vikramaiḥ | paśyato yuddhalubdho 'haṃ kṛtaṃ kāpuruṣas tvayā ||

Vor einem Gegner, berühmt für seine Kraft und bewundernswert durch seine Taten, hast du mich — obwohl ich den Kampf liebe — wie einen Feigling erscheinen lassen, während ich es mit ansah.

yaḥwho
yaḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootyad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; relative pronoun
tvamyou
tvam:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootyuṣmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormPrathamā, Ekavacana
rathamchariot
ratham:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootratha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana
idamthis
idam:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootidam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of ratham
mohātout of delusion
mohāt:
Hetu (हेतु)
TypeNoun
Rootmoha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga, Pañcamī, Ekavacana
nanot
na:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
FormNiṣedha-nipāta (negation particle)
cetif
cet:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootcet (अव्यय)
FormŚarthe-avyaya (conditional particle: if)
vahasiyou drive/carry
vahasi:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√vah (धातु)
FormLaṭ-lakāra (Present), Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd), Ekavacana; Parasmaipada
durmateO evil-minded one
durmate:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootdur-mati (प्रातिपदिक; dur + mati)
FormPuṃliṅga (vocative usage), Sambodhana, Ekavacana
satyaḥtruly
satyaḥ:
Pradhāna (प्रधान/सम्बन्ध)
TypeAdjective
Rootsatya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate adjective
apratitarkaḥundeniable (proof)
apratitarkaḥ:
Pradhāna (प्रधान/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Roota-pratitarka (प्रातिपदिक; nañ + pratitarka)
FormPuṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate-noun (‘one who is not to be doubted’ / ‘undoubted inference’)
meto me / my
me:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootasmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormṢaṣṭhī (Gen/6th), Ekavacana
pareṇaby the enemy
pareṇa:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootpara (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; ‘by the other/enemy’
tvamyou
tvam:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootyuṣmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormPrathamā, Ekavacana
upaskṛtaḥhave been bribed/instigated
upaskṛtaḥ:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootupa-√kṛ (धातु)
FormPPP (क्त), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; passive sense ‘have been influenced/instigated’

"While my adversary's valour is widely known, you brought me back like a timid one, while I love war, while I am to be praised in the presence of my enemy."

R
Rāvaṇa
S
Sārathi (charioteer)

FAQs

It reflects the kṣatriya ideal of steadfastness and public courage; withdrawing without cause is seen as adharma in the martial code because it signals fear and undermines duty.

Rāvaṇa complains that the charioteer’s action made him look cowardly before a renowned opponent.

Courage and steadfastness in confrontation—maintaining composure and position when facing a worthy enemy.