Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 34

युद्धकाण्डे द्वादशः सर्गः — रावणस्य परिषद्-सम्बोधनं कुम्भकर्णस्य नीत्युपदेशश्च

Ravana’s Council Address and Kumbhakarna’s Counsel

Devanagari script

त्वयेदंमहादारब्धंकार्यमप्रतिचिन्तितम् ।दिष्ट्यात्वांनावधीद्रामोविषमिश्रमिवामिषम् ।।6.12.34।।

Transliteration

tvayedaṃ mahad ārabdhaṃ kāryam apraticintitam | diṣṭyā tvāṃ nāvadhīd rāmo viṣa-miśram ivāmiṣam || 6.12.34 ||

Translation

You began this great undertaking without reflection; by good fortune Rama did not slay you—like flesh mixed with poison that destroys the one who eats it.

Word by Word

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tṛtīyā (Instrumental/3rd), Ekavacana; pronoun

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā/ Dvitīyā (Nom/Acc), Ekavacana

• mahat: great
• mahat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā/ Dvitīyā (Nom/Acc), Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of kāryam

• ārabdham: begun, undertaken
• ārabdham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-rabh (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Bhūta-kṛdanta (past passive participle), Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā/ Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of kāryam

• kāryam: task, undertaking
• kāryam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā/ Dvitīyā (Nom/Acc), Ekavacana

• apraticintitam: unconsidered, without reflection
• apraticintitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-prati-cint (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Bhūta-kṛdanta (PPP), Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā/ Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of kāryam

• diṣṭyā: fortunately
• diṣṭyā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: diṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (instrumental used adverbially): ‘by good fortune’

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvitīyā (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Niṣedha-nipāta (negation)

• avadhīt: killed
• avadhīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-han / ava-vadh (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ-lakāra (Aorist/Imperfect past), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana, Parasmaipada

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana

• viṣamiśram: poison-mixed
• viṣamiśram: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viṣa + miśra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana; samāsa: viṣena miśram (mixed with poison)

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-vācaka avyaya

• āmiṣam: meat, bait
• āmiṣam: Upameya (उपमेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āmiṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana

Context

"O Sinless Ravana! Therefore, that which you have done is not possible for none other than me. I will kill your enemy and accomplish your goal for you."

Characters & Entities

• Rama

FAQs

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

Dharma requires thoughtful action (vicāra) before undertaking major deeds; reckless beginnings invite self-destruction.

What is the narrative situation?

A warning that provoking Rama without due thought nearly resulted in immediate death.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Forethought and restraint, contrasted with impulsive pride.