Shloka 17

मारीचप्रलोभनम् / Ravana Solicits Maricha’s Aid

Golden Deer Stratagem

Devanagari script

एतदर्थमहं प्राप्तस्त्वत्समीपं निशाचर।शृणु तत्कर्म साहाय्ये यत्कार्यं वचनान्मम।।।।

Transliteration

etad-artham ahaṁ prāptas tvat-samīpaṁ niśācara | śṛṇu tat karma sāhāyye yat kāryaṁ vacanān mama || 3.36.17 ||

Translation

Por este mismo propósito he venido a tu presencia, oh vagabundo de la noche. Escucha: en esta obra de auxilio, lo que ha de hacerse será conforme a mi palabra.

Word by Word

• एतदर्थम्: for this purpose
• एतदर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय, 'for this purpose'

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

• प्राप्तः: have come
• प्राप्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√आप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP used in active sense: 'having come'), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• त्वत्: your
• त्वत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-सम्बन्धे (genitive stem used before noun), एकवचन

• समीपम्: near (to you)
• समीपम्: Gati/Karma (गति/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; गत्यर्थे (to the vicinity)

• निशाचर: O night-ranger (demon)
• निशाचर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशाचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (निशायां चरति), पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार, मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (कर्म) विशेषण

• कर्म: task
• कर्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• साहाय्ये: in (the matter of) assistance
• साहाय्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साहाय्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विषय/अधिकरणे

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative)

• कार्यम्: work to be done
• कार्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वचनात्: from (my) words / at my request
• वचनात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Context

In valour, in war and in conceit there is no one equal to you. You know all means (of success). You are great. You are brave. You are an expert in all deceitful arts.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Mārīca

FAQs

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

Dharma requires right counsel and right intention; here, authority is used to steer another into wrongdoing—showing how leadership without dharma becomes coercion.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa states he has come specifically to obtain Mārīca’s help and begins issuing instructions for the planned operation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse foregrounds obedience demanded by a powerful figure; the counter-virtue to consider is moral discernment—refusing to assist adharma even under pressure.