Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 57, Shloka 15

प्रहस्तनिर्याणम्

Prahasta’s Departure and the Muster of the Rakshasa Host

Devanagari script

सोऽहंदानैश्चमानैश्चसततंपूजितस्त्वया ।।।।सान्त्वैश्चविविधैःकालेकिंनकुर्यांहितंतव ।

Transliteration

so'haṃ dānaiś ca mānaiś ca satataṃ pūjitas tvayā | sāntvaiś ca vividhaiḥ kāle kiṃ na kuryāṃ hitaṃ tava || 6.57.15 ||

Translation

Since you have continually honored me with gifts, respect, and many kinds of conciliatory words at the proper times, why should I not, now that the time has come, do what is for your good?

Word by Word

• सः: he; that (I)
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• दानैः: by gifts
• दानैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (and)

• मानैः: by honors
• मानैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (and)

• सततम्: always
• सततम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्ययवत् (adverb): "always"

• पूजितः: honored
• पूजितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन: "honored"

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• सान्त्वैः: by consolations; kind words
• सान्त्वैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सान्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (and)

• विविधैः: various
• विविधैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter) / पुंलिङ्ग (masculine) instrumental plural; here agreeing with सान्त्वैः (neuter): तृतीया, बहुवचन

• काले: at the time
• काले: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (Singular): "at the time"

• किम्: why
• किम्: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्ययवत् (interrogative particle): "why/what"

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• कुर्याम्: should I do
• कुर्याम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• हितम्: good; benefit
• हितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• तव: for you
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

Context

"You have always given me gifts, many honours and praises earlier and worshipped me. When time comes why will I not do"

Characters & Entities

• Prahasta
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma of service includes gratitude and reciprocation; yet it also implies that ‘doing good’ for a ruler should align with rightful counsel, not blind flattery.

What is the narrative situation?

Prahasta explains his commitment to act for Rāvaṇa’s benefit, recalling the honors and kindness he has received.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Loyalty and gratitude within the adviser–king relationship.