Shloka 99

Devanagari script

शतक्रतुमुखैर्वीरैःश्रूयते न पराजितः ।।।।महात्माबलसम्पन्नोरावणोलोकरावणः ।

Transliteration

śatakratumukhair vīraiḥ śrūyate na parājitaḥ |

mahātmā balasampanno rāvaṇo lokarāvaṇaḥ ||

Translation

Se dice que ni siquiera por héroes encabezados por Śatakratu (Indra) fue vencido. Grande de alma y colmado de poder era Rāvaṇa, el azote del mundo.

Word by Word

• śatakratumukhaiḥ: by heroes led by Indra
• śatakratumukhaiḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (agent in passive śrūyate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śatakratu + mukha (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); तत्पुरुष: śatakratuḥ (indra) as mukha/leader; 'by heroes headed by Indra'

• vīraiḥ: by heroes
• vīraiḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• śrūyate: is heard / is said
• śrūyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद); passive sense 'is heard'

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• parājitaḥ: defeated
• parājitaḥ: Predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parā + ji (धातु)
• Form: Past participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicate of rāvaṇaḥ

• mahātmā: great-souled
• mahātmā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) (of rāvaṇaḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + ātman (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय: mahān ātmā yasya

• balasampannaḥ: endowed with strength
• balasampannaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bala + sampanna (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: balena sampannaḥ

• rāvaṇaḥ: Ravana
• rāvaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (of nominal clause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• lokarāvaṇaḥ: tormentor of the world
• lokarāvaṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) (of rāvaṇaḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka + rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: lokasya rāvaṇaḥ (one who makes the world cry/torments the world)

Context

"Though he is richly endowed with prowess, he is a tyranny to the world, who has performed a hundred sacrifices (like Indra) and never got defeated, I heard."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāvaṇa
• Śatakratu (Indra)

FAQs

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

The verse distinguishes capability from righteousness: immense power and fame do not equal dharma. When strength serves oppression, it becomes ‘loka-rāvaṇa’—a cause of suffering.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma continues characterizing Rāvaṇa: formidable and reputedly unconquered, yet harmful to the world.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s ethical discernment—he evaluates greatness by impact on the world, not by mere might.