Shloka 31

युद्धकाण्डे पञ्चनवतितमः सर्गः

Sarga 95: Lamentation in Laṅkā and the Causal Chain of Enmity

Devanagari script

पीड्यमानास्तुबलिनावरदानेनरक्षसा ।।।।दीप्स्सैस्तपोभिर्विबुधाःपितामहमपूजयन् ।

Transliteration

pīḍyamānās tu balinā varadānena rakṣasā | dīptais tapobhir vibudhāḥ pitāmaham apūjayan || 6.95.31 ||

Translation

Von dem mächtigen Rākṣasa bedrängt, der durch eine gewährte Gabe gestärkt war, verehrten die weisen Götter Pitāmaha Brahmā mit lodernden Tapas-Austeritäten.

Word by Word

• pīḍyamānāḥ: being tormented
• pīḍyamānāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pīḍ (धातु)
• Form: Present passive participle (शानच्/मान), Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural; passive sense

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (विरोध/अन्वय-सूचक)

• balinā: by the mighty
• balinā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: balin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adjective used substantively, Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; qualifying 'rakṣasā'

• varadānena: by the boon-gift (boon)
• varadānena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara + dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound (कर्मधारय/षष्ठी-भाव): varaṃ dānam; Neuter, Instrumental (3rd), Singular

• rakṣasā: by the Rakshasa
• rakṣasā: Kartr/Hetu (कर्ता/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• dīptaiḥ: blazing, intense
• dīptaiḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīpta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adjective, Neuter/Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Plural; qualifying 'tapobhiḥ'

• tapobhiḥ: with austerities
• tapobhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• vibudhāḥ: the gods/wise ones
• vibudhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibudha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural

• pitāmaham: Brahmā (the Grandfather)
• pitāmaham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitāmaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• apūjayan: worshipped
• apūjayan: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pūj (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Plural

Context

"Tormented by the oppression of Ravana, on account of the boon (given to him by the creator) and intensity of his austerities, the learned worshipped Brahma."

Characters & Entities

• Pitāmaha (Brahmā)
• Rākṣasa (Rāvaṇa implied)
• Tapas (austerity)

FAQs

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

When order is disrupted, dharma is restored not by despair but by rightful recourse—seeking remedy through disciplined tapas and truthful worship.

What is the narrative situation?

The Devas, suffering under Rāvaṇa’s oppression made effective by a boon, approach Brahmā through intense austerity and worship.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Tapas and sāttvika perseverance—steadfast spiritual effort as a legitimate means to address cosmic imbalance.