Shloka 2

राक्षसपरिषद्वाक्यम्

Counsel of the Rakshasa Court to Ravana

Devanagari script

द्विषत्पक्षमविज्ञायनीतिबाह्यास्त्वबुद्धयः ।राजन्परिघशक्त्यृष्टिशूलपट्टिशकुन्तलम् ।।।।

Transliteration

dviṣat-pakṣam avijñāya nīti-bāhyās tv abuddhayaḥ | rājan parigha-śakty-ṛṣṭi-śūla-paṭṭi-śakuntalam ||

Translation

Sans discerner le camp de l’ennemi et dépourvus d’art politique, ils sont insensés ; bien que, ô roi, ils portent des barres de fer, des javelots, des lances, des tridents, des épées et des piques acérées.

Word by Word

• dviṣat-pakṣam: the enemy side
• dviṣat-pakṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dviṣat (प्रातिपदिक) + pakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound (dviṣat-pakṣa = "enemy side/party"); Puṃliṅga (m.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana (sg.)

• avijñāya: not knowing
• avijñāya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: a-vi-√jñā (ज्ञा धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), indeclinable verbal; "not having understood/without recognizing"

• nīti-bāhyāḥ: devoid of political wisdom
• nīti-bāhyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (as qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nīti (प्रातिपदिक) + bāhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound (nīti-bāhya = "outside policy/without political wisdom"); Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Bahuvacana (pl.); qualifying implied persons

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (contrast/emphasis)

• abuddhayaḥ: foolish
• abuddhayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abuddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Bahuvacana (pl.); "unintelligent"

• rājan: O king
• rājan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Sambodhana (Voc.), Ekavacana (sg.)

• parigha-śakti-ṛṣṭi-śūla-paṭṭiśa-kuntalam: iron bars, javelins, spears, tridents, axes/swords, and lances
• parigha-śakti-ṛṣṭi-śūla-paṭṭiśa-kuntalam: Karma (कर्म) (elliptical object in context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parigha (प्रातिपदिक) + śakti (प्रातिपदिक) + ṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक) + śūla (प्रातिपदिक) + paṭṭiśa (प्रातिपदिक) + kuntala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Itaretara-dvandva (इतरइतरे द्वन्द्व) list-compound of weapons; Napuṃsakalिङ्ग (n.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana (sg.) (collective)

Context

"O King! The ogres are not having political intelligence. They have submitted themselves, even though they are mighty and are having iron bars, javelins, sharp edged spears, and double-edged swords."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Enemies (dviṣat-pakṣa)

FAQs

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

Dharma in leadership includes right discernment (viveka) and nīti (wise policy): weapons without judgment lead to ruin.

What is the narrative situation?

In counsel, the speaker comments on opponents’ lack of strategic understanding despite their armaments.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and political intelligence are implied as the superior ‘virtue’ over mere weaponry.