Shloka 20

महापार्श्वस्य परामर्शः

Mahāpārśva’s Counsel and Rāvaṇa’s Confession of Brahmā’s Curse

Devanagari script

तच्चास्यबलमादास्येबलेनमहतावृतः ।उदितस्सविताकालेनक्षत्राणामिवप्रभाम् ।।।।

Transliteration

tac cāsya balam ādāsye balena mahatāvṛtaḥ |

uditaḥ savitā kālena kṣatrāṇām iva prabhām ||

Translation

Von einem mächtigen Heer umgeben, werde ich seine Kraft brechen und an mich nehmen—wie die aufgehende Sonne im Morgengrauen den Glanz der Sterne überstrahlt.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अस्य: of him
• अस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम्/एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंस, षष्ठी, एकवचन; Genitive singular

• बलम्: strength/army
• बलम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• आदास्ये: I will take away/seize
• आदास्ये: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-दा (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple future), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; Ātmanepada

• बलेन: with (my) strength/force
• बलेन: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• महतā: great, mighty
• महतā: विशेषण (करणविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; Instrumental singular; qualifies balena

• वृतः: surrounded
• वृतः: विशेषण (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular masculine; predicate of implied ‘aham’

• उदितः: risen
• उदितः: विशेषण (कर्तृविशेषण of savitā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्-इ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular masculine; agrees with savitā

• सविता: the Sun
• सविता: कर्ता (Subject in simile)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सवितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• कालेन: by/at the time
• कालेन: करण/काल (Time-instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; Instrumental singular; ‘at the time (of dawn)’

• नक्षत्राणाम्: of the stars
• नक्षत्राणाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नक्षत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; Genitive plural

• इव: like
• इव: सम्बन्ध (Comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय

• प्रभाम्: radiance, light
• प्रभाम्: कर्म (Object of implied ‘ādāsye’ in simile: takes away radiance)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular

Context

"Surrounded by a huge army I will split up his army like the morning Sun splits up stars with his radiance."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Power without righteousness is unstable: the verse’s imagery of eclipse and domination becomes ironic in Ramayana, where dharma (not numbers) ultimately prevails.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa predicts he will crush Rāma’s army through superior forces and timing.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Implicitly, the virtue is leadership under dharma—Rāma’s side fights for a just cause rather than mere conquest.