Shloka 4

रावणस्य सभाप्रवेशः

Ravana Enters the Royal Assembly and Summons Counsel

Devanagari script

तमास्थायरथश्रेष्ठंमहामेघसमस्वनम् ।प्रययौरक्षसांश्रेष्ठोदशग्रीवस्सभांप्रति ।।।।

Transliteration

tam āsthāya rathaśreṣṭhaṃ mahāmeghasamasvanam |

prayayau rakṣasāṃ śreṣṭho daśagrīvaḥ sabhāṃ prati ||

Translation

Er bestieg jenen erlesensten Wagen, dessen Dröhnen dem Tosen einer mächtigen Gewitterwolke glich; und Daśagrīva, der Vornehmste unter den Rākṣasas, fuhr zur königlichen Versammlung.

Word by Word

• tam: that (chariot)
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• āsthāya: having mounted
• āsthāya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā+sthā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund); ‘having mounted/taken position’

• ratha-śreṣṭham: the best of chariots
• ratha-śreṣṭham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक) + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (rathānāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ)

• mahā-megha-sama-svanam: having a roar like a huge cloud
• mahā-megha-sama-svanam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + megha (प्रातिपदिक) + sama (प्रातिपदिक) + svana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (mahāmeghasya iva samaḥ svanaḥ yasya)

• prayayau: went forth
• prayayau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra+ya (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• rakṣasām: of the Rakshasas
• rakṣasām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive/6th), बहुवचनम्

• śreṣṭhaḥ: the foremost
• śreṣṭhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम्

• daśa-grīvaḥ: the ten-necked (Ravana)
• daśa-grīvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + grīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम्; समासः—बहुव्रीहिः (daśa grīvāḥ yasya saḥ)

• sabhām: to the assembly hall
• sabhām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्

• prati: towards
• prati: Gati/Direction marker (गति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prati (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग/अव्यय (preposition-like indeclinable)

Context

Those who assembled at the royal court neither made a little noise, nor uttered untruth, nor spoke. All of them were fully accomplished, very heroic and looked at their Lord's face.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa (Daśagrīva)
• Rākṣasas
• sabhā (royal assembly)
• ratha (chariot)

FAQs

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

The verse frames kingship and public action: a ruler moves toward the sabhā where decisions affecting many are made. Dharma here points to accountability—power is exercised in a public, deliberative space, not merely in private impulse.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa, after mounting his imposing chariot, proceeds to the royal assembly to convene or address his court in the context of the coming conflict.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Majesty and command (aiśvarya/tejas) are highlighted—though the broader epic later tests whether such power is aligned with dharma and satya.