Shloka 86

युद्धकाण्डे एकोनषष्टितमः सर्गः

Rāvaṇa’s Assault on Nīla and Lakṣmaṇa; Hanumān Bears Rāma

Devanagari script

ततोऽब्रवीन्महातेजारावणोराक्षसेश्वरः ।कपेलाघवयुक्तोऽसिमाययापरयाऽनया ।।6.59.86।।

Transliteration

tato 'bravīn mahātejā rāvaṇo rākṣaseśvaraḥ | kape lāghavayukto 'si māyayā parayā 'nayā ||6.59.86||

Translation

Then Rāvaṇa, lord of the rākṣasas, blazing with power, said: “O monkey, you are endowed with swift trickery—by this wicked, deceptive māyā.”

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (then)

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd Person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• mahā-tejāḥ: mighty/splendid
• mahā-tejāḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; qualifying rāvaṇaḥ

• rāvaṇaḥ: Ravana
• rāvaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• rākṣasa-īśvaraḥ: lord of the Rakshasas
• rākṣasa-īśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘lord of the rākṣasas’ (rākṣasānām īśvaraḥ)

• kape: O monkey
• kape: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• lāghava-yuktaḥ: endowed with agility
• lāghava-yuktaḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: lāghava (प्रातिपदिक) + yukta (√yuj क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; तत्पुरुषः ‘endowed with agility/lightness’

• asi: you are
• asi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 2nd Person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular, Parasmaipada

• māyayā: by magic/illusion
• māyayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• parayā: by supreme/other
• parayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular; qualifying māyayā

• anayā: by this
• anayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular; demonstrative qualifying māyayā

Context

Ravana endowed with extraordinary energy said, "Oh monkey, you are unfair, very tricky and further deceptive."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Nīla (kapi)
• māyā (deception/illusion)

FAQs

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

The verse foregrounds satya vs. māyā: in conflict, opponents may label skill as deception; dharma demands truthful discernment—distinguishing legitimate strategy from adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

After being outmaneuvered by Nīla’s agility, Rāvaṇa addresses him directly, accusing him of using deceptive means.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Indirectly, Nīla’s extraordinary skill; and ethically, the need for truthful speech—Rāvaṇa’s accusation reflects a mind disturbed by anger and pride.