Shloka 38

मारीचाश्रमगमनम्

Ravana’s Journey to Maricha’s Hermitage

Devanagari script

तत्र कृष्णाजिनधरं जटावल्कलधारिणम्।ददर्श नियताहारं मारीचं नाम राक्षसाम्।।।।

Transliteration

tatra kṛṣṇājinadharaṃ jaṭāvalkaladhāriṇam |

dadarśa niyatāhāraṃ mārīcaṃ nāma rākṣasam ||

Translation

Là, il vit le rākṣasa nommé Mārīca, vêtu d’une peau de cerf sombre, portant des cheveux emmêlés et des vêtements d’écorce, vivant d’une nourriture mesurée.

Word by Word

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

• rāvaṇaḥ: Rāvaṇa
• rāvaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• samāgamya: having arrived
• samāgamya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√gam (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; having come/approached

• vidhivat: duly
• vidhivat: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhivat (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्यर्थ-अव्यय (adverb: according to rule)

• tena: by him
• tena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; refers to Mārīca

• rakṣasā: by the demon
• rakṣasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• mārīcena: by Mārīca
• mārīcena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārīca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• arcitaḥ: was honored/worshipped
• arcitaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arc (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; passive sense

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• sarva-kāmaiḥ: with all desired things
• sarva-kāmaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय: सर्वे कामाः

• amānuṣaiḥ: superhuman
• amānuṣaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: amānuṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण of sarvakāmaiḥ

Context

O king ! O lord of the demons ! hope all is well in Lanka. What brings you here again so soon ?

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Mārīca

FAQs

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

The verse cautions that ascetic outward signs can be imitated; dharma requires inner truth (satya) and intention, not merely external symbols of renunciation.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa arrives and finds Mārīca in an ascetic-like guise, setting the stage for persuasion and conspiracy.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-restraint is suggested by “regulated food,” but the context (a rākṣasa in ascetic garb) invites scrutiny of whether the restraint is genuine or strategic.