Shloka 12

प्रहस्तनिर्याणम्

Prahasta’s Departure and the Muster of the Rakshasa Host

Devanagari script

रावणेनैवमुक्तस्तुप्रहस्तोवाहिनीपतिः ।।।।राक्षसेन्द्रमुवाचेदमसुरेन्द्रमिवोशना ।

Transliteration

rāvaṇenaivam uktaḥ tu prahasto vāhinīpatiḥ | rākṣasendram uvācedam asurendram ivośanā || 6.57.12 ||

Translation

So von Rāvaṇa angesprochen, sprach Prahasta, der Heerführer, diese Worte zum Herrn der Rākṣasas, wie Uśanā einst zum König der Asuras sprach.

Word by Word

• रावणेन: by Ravana
• रावणेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (manner adverb): "thus"

• उक्तः: addressed
• उक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन: "having been addressed/spoken to"

• तु: then
• तु: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वयार्थक-निपात (particle): "but/then"

• प्रहस्तः: Prahasta
• प्रहस्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रहस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• वाहिनीपतिः: commander of the army
• वाहिनीपतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाहिनीपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: वाहिन्याः पतिः

• राक्षसेन्द्रम्: the lord of Rakshasas
• राक्षसेन्द्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षसेन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: राक्षसानाम् इन्द्रः

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• इदम्: this (speech)
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• असुरेन्द्रम्: the lord of Asuras
• असुरेन्द्रम्: Upameya (उपमेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुरेन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: असुराणाम् इन्द्रः

• इव: like
• इव: Upama (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय (like)

• उशना: Ushanas (Shukra)
• उशना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उशनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); ऋषिनाम (proper name)

Context

Prahastha, the Commander-in-Chief having heard Ravana, replied to the king of Rakshasas just as the preceptor of Rakshasas spoke to Bali.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Prahasta

FAQs

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

Dharma in governance values counsel: rulers are expected to hear advisers, just as traditional preceptors guide kings toward (or away from) ruin.

What is the narrative situation?

After Rāvaṇa speaks, the narrative introduces Prahasta’s formal response, framed with a mythic analogy to a preceptor advising an Asura king.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The duty of advisers to speak clearly and responsibly to those in power.