Shloka 12

सुवेलारोहणं रावण-सुग्रीव-नियुद्धम्

Ascent of Suvela and the Ravana–Sugriva Duel

Devanagari script

समीक्ष्यतूर्णमायान्तमबभाषेनिशाचरः ।सुग्रीवस्त्वपरोक्षम् मेहीनग्रीवोभविष्यसि ।।।।

Transliteration

samīkṣya tūrṇam āyāntam ababhāṣe niśācaraḥ |

sugrīvas tv aparokṣaṃ me hīnagrīvo bhaviṣyasi ||

Translation

Als der Rākṣasa Sugrīva eilends heranstürmen sah, sprach er: „Sugrīva, da du nun vor meinen eigenen Augen stehst, wirst du halslos werden.“

Word by Word

• समीक्ष्य: having seen/observed
• समीक्ष्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-ईक्ष् (धातु) + ल्यप् (ल्यबन्त/Absolutive)
• Form: ल्यबन्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive): "having observed"

• तूर्णम्: quickly
• तूर्णम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तूर्णम् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb): "quickly"

• आयान्तम्: coming (towards)
• आयान्तम्: कर्म (Karman/Object) (विशेषण-रूपेण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-या (धातु) + शतृ (वर्तमानकृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (Present Active Participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• तम्: him
• तम्: कर्म (Karman/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम (Pronoun)

• अबभाषे: spoke
• अबभाषे: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भाष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); आत्मनेपदम्

• निशाचरः: the night-ranger (Rakshasa)
• निशाचरः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशा-चर (प्रातिपदिक); निशा (प्रातिपदिक) + चर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); "night-wanderer"

• सुग्रीवः: O Sugriva
• सुग्रीवः: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुग्रीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative/Nominative-like address), एकवचन (Singular); सम्बोधन (address)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम (2nd person pronoun)

• अपरोक्षम्: in my presence / before my eyes
• अपरोक्षम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपरोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial accusative): "in my presence/within my sight"

• मे: my
• मे: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम (1st person): "my"

• हीनग्रीवः: neckless (deprived of neck)
• हीनग्रीवः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject) (predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हीन-ग्रीव (प्रातिपदिक); हीन (प्रातिपदिक) + ग्रीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषणम् त्वम् इत्यस्य; अर्थे: "neckless"

• भविष्यसि: you will become
• भविष्यसि: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपदम्

Context

Observing Sugriva coming towards him, Ravana said, "When you were not seen by me you had a neck. I will make you neckless."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sugrīva
• Niśācara (rākṣasa epithet)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the adharma-pattern of intimidation and cruelty: instead of reason or justice, the rākṣasa responds with violent threat.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa notices Sugrīva’s attack and issues a direct threat as the confrontation escalates into close combat.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast, Sugrīva’s courage is implied; Rāvaṇa’s trait shown is arrogance and violent wrath.