Shloka 23

रावणस्य सभाप्रवेशः

Ravana Enters the Royal Assembly and Summons Counsel

Devanagari script

तेवाहनाव्यवस्थाप्ययानानिविविधानिच ।सभांपद्भिःप्रविविशुस्सिंहागिरिगुहामिव ।।।।

Transliteration

te vāhanāny avasthāpya yānāni vividhāni ca |

sabhāṁ padbhiḥ praviviśuḥ siṁhā giri-guhām iva ||

Translation

Nachdem sie am Eingang ihre verschiedenen Fahrzeuge geordnet abgestellt hatten, betraten sie die königliche Halle zu Fuß – wie Löwen, die in eine Berghöhle schreiten.

Word by Word

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• वाहनानि: vehicles
• वाहनानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• व्यवस्थाप्य: having arranged/parked
• व्यवस्थाप्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + अव + स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); 'having arranged/parked'

• यानानि: conveyances
• यानानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• विविधानि: various
• विविधानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण to यानानि

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• सभाम्: assembly hall
• सभाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पद्भिः: on foot/with feet
• पद्भिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया, बहुवचन; साधन (means)

• प्रविविशुः: entered
• प्रविविशुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + विश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); परस्मैपद

• सिंहाः: lions
• सिंहाः: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; उपमान (standard of comparison)

• गिरि-गुहाम्: a mountain cave
• गिरि-गुहाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि (प्रातिपदिक) + गुहा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Genitive/locative sense: 'cave of a mountain'); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय

Context

They held the feet of the king and on offering salutations to the king took their seat. While some took golden seats, some sat on a kusa grass mat, and some took a se at on the floor.

Characters & Entities

• Rākṣasas
• sabhā (royal court/assembly hall)

FAQs

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

Dharma appears as maryādā (proper conduct): even powerful warriors follow procedure—arranging vehicles and entering formally—showing that strength is ideally governed by rule.

What is the narrative situation?

The assembled rākṣasas dismount and enter the sabhā in a disciplined manner.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Respect for protocol and controlled power (strength expressed within social order).