Shloka 32

रावणस्य सभाप्रवेशः

Ravana Enters the Royal Assembly and Summons Counsel

Devanagari script

सरावणश्शस्त्रभृतांमनस्विनांमहाबलानांसमितौमनस्वी ।तस्यांसभायांप्रभयाचकाशेमध्येवसूनामिववज्रहस्तेः ।।।।

Transliteration

sa rāvaṇaḥ śastrabhṛtāṃ manasvināṃ mahābalānāṃ samitau manasvī |

tasyāṃ sabhāyāṃ prabhayā cakāśe madhye vasūnām iva vajrahastaḥ ||

Translation

Jener heldenhafte Rāvaṇa, inmitten der entschlossenen Waffenträger von gewaltiger Kraft im Kampf, erstrahlte in jener Versammlung — wie Vajrahasta (Indra) unter den Vasus in der Schlacht.

Word by Word

• sa-rāvaṇaḥ: Rāvaṇa (together with his retinue/attendants)
• sa-rāvaṇaḥ: कर्ता (agent/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) with sa- (स उपसर्ग/उपपद: ‘with/along with’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (masc., nominative, singular)

• śastra-bhṛtām: of the weapon-bearers
• śastra-bhṛtām: सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śastra (प्रातिपदिक) + bhṛt (कृदन्त; √bhṛ धातु ‘to bear’)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; (genitive plural) ‘of the weapon-bearers’

• manasvinām: of the high-spirited/heroic ones
• manasvinām: सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manasvin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम् (masc., genitive, plural)

• mahā-balānām: of the very strong (of great prowess)
• mahā-balānām: सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (अव्यय/उपपद) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम् (neut., genitive, plural) ‘of great strength’

• samitau: in battle
• samitau: अधिकरण (locus: ‘in/at’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samiti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (fem., locative, singular)

• manasvī: heroic, high-spirited
• manasvī: कर्ता (as part of subject phrase)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: manasvin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (masc., nominative, singular); विशेषणम् (qualifying sa-rāvaṇaḥ)

• tasyām: in that
• tasyām: अधिकरण (locus: ‘in that’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (fem., locative, singular)

• sabhāyām: in the assembly
• sabhāyām: अधिकरण (locus)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (fem., locative, singular)

• prabhayā: with (his) radiance/glow
• prabhayā: करण (instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (fem., instrumental, singular)

• cakāśe: shone
• cakāśe: क्रिया (main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kāś (धातु; ‘to shine’) with reduplication (चकाशे)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (परिपूर्णभूत/Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्, आत्मनेपदम् (perfect, 3rd person, singular, middle)

• madhye: in the middle/in the midst
• madhye: अधिकरण (locus)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (neut., locative, singular); अव्ययीभावार्थे ‘in the midst’

• vasūnām: of the Vasus (a class of gods)
• vasūnām: सम्बन्ध (genitive relation with madhye: ‘in the midst of’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम् (masc., genitive, plural)

• iva: like, as if
• iva: सम्बन्ध (comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्ययम् (indeclinable of comparison)

• vajrahasteḥ: of Vajrahasta (Indra, the thunderbolt-holder)
• vajrahasteḥ: सम्बन्ध (genitive relation; standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajra (प्रातिपदिक) + hasta (प्रातिपदिक) → vajra-hasta (समास-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (masc., genitive, singular); बहुव्रीहिः = ‘whose hand holds the vajra’ (इन्द्रः)

Context

Then as Ravana entered the assembly thousands of band instruments sounded aloud. Conchs broke forth producing tumultuous noise.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Indra (Vajrahasta)
• Vasus
• sabhā (assembly)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights charismatic authority and radiance (tejas). In Ramayana ethics, such tejas is admirable only when governed by dharma and satya; otherwise it becomes mere brilliance without righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

In the royal assembly, Rāvaṇa is depicted as shining prominently among his powerful armed heroes, likened to Indra among the gods in battle.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Tejas (radiant presence) and martial prestige, presented through a divine simile.