Shloka 1

वानरमुख्य-परिचयः

Catalogue of Principal Vānara Leaders

Devanagari script

तद्वचःपथ्यमक्लीबंसारणेनाभिभाषितम् ।निशम्यरावणोराजाप्रत्यभाषतसारणम् ।।।।

Transliteration

tad vacaḥ pathyam aklībaṃ sāraṇenābhibhāṣitam |

niśamya rāvaṇo rājā pratyabhāṣata sāraṇam ||6.26.1||

Translation

Als König Rāvaṇa Sāraṇas offene Worte vernahm—heilsam und zuträglich, ohne Feigheit—antwortete er ihm.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; determiner of वचः

• वचः: speech/words
• वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• पथ्यम्: wholesome/beneficial
• पथ्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पथ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; qualifying वचः

• अक्लीबम्: unfaltering/undaunted
• अक्लीबम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्लीब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; qualifying वचः

• सारणेन: by Sāraṇa
• सारणेन: Kartr (कर्ता-करणभाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• अभिभाषितम्: spoken/addressed
• अभिभाषितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि+भाष् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; passive sense "spoken" qualifying वचः

• निशम्य: having heard
• निशम्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नि+शम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund): "having heard"

• रावणः: Ravana
• रावणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• राजा: king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; apposition to रावणः

• प्रत्यभाषत: replied
• प्रत्यभाषत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति+भाष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/अनद्यतनभूत), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• सारणम्: to Sāraṇa
• सारणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

Context

Perceiving the truthful and beneficial words spoken by Saarana, without hesitation, King Ravana replied.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sāraṇa

FAQs

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

A dharmic court values truthful, beneficial counsel (pathya + satya). The verse foregrounds the ideal that advisors should speak plainly for the common good, and rulers should at least listen.

What is the narrative situation?

Following reconnaissance, Sāraṇa speaks to Rāvaṇa; the narrator notes the counsel’s beneficial nature and Rāvaṇa’s response.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Forthright counsel (aklība): the courage to speak what is useful rather than what is pleasing.