Shloka 16

अष्टत्रिंशः सर्गः — मारीचोपदेशः

Maricha’s Warning and the Memory of Rama’s Power

Devanagari script

ततोऽहं मेघसङ्काशस्तप्तकाञ्चनकुण्डलः।बली दत्तवरोदर्पादाजगाम तदाश्रमम्।।3.38.16।।

Transliteration

tato ’haṁ megha-saṅkāśas tapta-kāñcana-kuṇḍalaḥ |

balī datta-varodarpād ājagāma tad-āśramam || 3.38.16 ||

Translation

Entonces yo—oscuro como una nube, con relucientes pendientes de oro—fuerte y henchido por el orgullo de los dones concedidos, llegué a aquel āśrama.

Word by Word

• tena: by him
• tena: Karaṇa (करण; passive agent/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• dṛṣṭaḥ: seen
• dṛṣṭaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; aham with predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dṛṣṭa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √dṛś)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि (having been seen)

• praviṣṭaḥ: entered
• praviṣṭaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; aham with predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: praviṣṭa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; pra-√viś)
• Form: क्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘entered’ (predicate)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• sahasā: suddenly
• sahasā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sahasā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (suddenly/forcibly)

• eva: indeed/at once
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण निपात (emphasis)

• udyata-āyudhaḥ: with weapons raised
• udyata-āyudhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of aham)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udyata + āyudha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (यस्य आयुधं उद्यतम्)

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म; dṛṣṭvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• tu: but/then
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive) ‘having seen’

• dhanuḥ: the bow
• dhanuḥ: Karma (कर्म; cakāra)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• sajyam: strung
• sajyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of dhanuḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sajya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (strung)

• asambhrāntaḥ: unperturbed
• asambhrāntaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of saḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: asambhrānta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; a- + √bhram)
• Form: क्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (unperturbed)

• cakāra: made/did
• cakāra: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता; cakāra)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Context

Thereafter, handsome Rama, with eyes like lotus petals, beards ungrown, clad in a single garment with knotted hair on the head, wielding a bow, with a chain of gold, luminous with his own lustre enhanced the glory of Dandaka forest by looking like the young moon just risen.

Characters & Entities

• Mārīca
• āśrama (hermitage)

FAQs

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

Gifts and boons do not justify wrongdoing; pride that arises from power becomes a cause of adharma and downfall.

What is the narrative situation?

Mārīca recounts approaching the hermitage, emboldened by strength and supernatural favors.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The cautionary opposite of virtue: humility. The Ramayana repeatedly treats humility as the safeguard of power.