Shloka 19

राक्षसपरिषद्वाक्यम्

Counsel of the Rakshasa Court to Ravana

Devanagari script

तेषांवीर्यगुणोत्साहैर्नसमोराघवोरणे ।प्रसह्यतेत्वयाराजन्हताःसमरदुर्जयाः ।।।।

Transliteration

teṣāṃ vīrya-guṇotsāhair na samo rāghavo raṇe | prasahya te tvayā rājan hatāḥ samara-durjayāḥ ||

Translation

An Tapferkeit, Vorzügen und Eifer war Rāghava ihnen im Kampf nicht ebenbürtig; dennoch, o König, überwältigtest du und erschlugst jene, die im Krieg schwer zu besiegen waren.

Word by Word

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• वीर्यगुणोत्साहैः: by (their) valor, qualities, and energy
• वीर्यगुणोत्साहैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर्यगुणोत्साह (प्रातिपदिक) = वीर्य + गुण + उत्साह
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (coordinative)

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• समः: equal
• समः: प्रधानीय-विशेषण (Predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate adjective with राघवः

• राघवः: Rāghava (Rama)
• राघवः: कर्तृ (Kartṛ/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• प्रसह्यते: is overpowered/overcome
• प्रसह्यते: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + सह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada)

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: कर्तृ (Kartṛ/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया, एकवचन

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: सम्बोधन (Vocative address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• हताः: killed
• हताः: क्रियापद-भाग (Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; predicative with (implied) ते (they)

• समरदुर्जयाः: hard to conquer in battle
• समरदुर्जयाः: कर्तृ (Kartṛ/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समरदुर्जय (प्रातिपदिक) = समर + दुर्जय
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण of (implied) ते

Context

"Raghava is not equal to them in valour, excellence and energy. Those warriors who were difficult to overcome by battle were overpowered and killed by you."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Rāma (Rāghava)

FAQs

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

It illustrates adharma-supporting flattery: minimizing the righteous opponent (Rāma) and exaggerating one’s own side undermines satya (truth), which the Ramayana treats as foundational to dharma.

What is the narrative situation?

A Laṅkā court speaker attempts to boost Rāvaṇa’s confidence by belittling Rāma’s prowess.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Aggressive dominance in battle is praised, though the epic ultimately esteems dharmic strength over boastful might.