Shloka 22

राक्षसपरिषद्वाक्यम्

Counsel of the Rakshasa Court to Ravana

Devanagari script

शक्तितोमरमीनंचविनिकीर्णान्त्रशैवलम् ।गजकछपसम्बाधमश्वमण्डूकसंकुलम् ।।6.7.22।।रुद्रादित्यमहाग्राहंमरुद्वसुमहोरगम् ।रथश्वगजतोयौघंपदातिपुलिनंमहत् ।।6.7.23।।अनेनहिसमासाद्यदेवानांबलसागरम् ।गृहीतोदैवतपतिर्लङ्कांचापिप्रवेशितः ।।6.7.24।।

Transliteration

śakti-tomara-mīnaṃ ca vinikīrṇāntra-śaivalam |

gaja-kachapa-sambādham aśva-maṇḍūka-saṅkulam ||6.7.22||

Translation

Il (Rāvaṇa) rencontra jadis cet «océan des dieux» : une mer foisonnant de poissons qui étaient lances et javelots, aux herbes d’eau faites d’entrailles éparses ; encombrée d’éléphants tels des tortues, et pleine de chevaux pareils à des grenouilles.

Word by Word

• पितामह-नियोगात्: from/according to the command of Brahmā (the grandsire)
• पितामह-नियोगात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Source-cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह-नियोग (प्रातिपदिक) = पितामह + नियोग
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• मुक्तः: released, freed
• मुक्तः: क्रियापद-भाग (Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicative

• शम्बरवृत्रहा: slayer of Śambara and Vṛtra (Indra)
• शम्बरवृत्रहा: कर्तृ (Kartṛ/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्बरवृत्रहन् (प्रातिपदिक) = शम्बर-हन् + वृत्र-हन्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (agent-noun: 'slayer of X')

• गतः: went
• गतः: क्रियापद-भाग (Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicative

• त्रिविष्टपम्: to heaven (Triviṣṭapa)
• त्रिविष्टपम्: कर्म (Karma/Object/Goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिविष्टप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: सम्बोधन (Vocative address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• सर्वदेवनमस्कृतः: revered by all gods
• सर्वदेवनमस्कृतः: कर्तृ (Kartṛ/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वदेवनमस्कृत (प्रातिपदिक) = सर्वदेव + नमस्कृत
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण of (Indra)

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Devas (gods)

FAQs

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

The verse itself is largely descriptive, but it serves an ethical warning by implication: pride in past victories can cloud righteous judgment; Dharma requires clear discernment rather than intoxication with power.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa’s counselors attempt to embolden him by recalling his former conquest over the gods, using an extended metaphor of the gods’ army as an ocean.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Not a virtue but a failing is highlighted indirectly: overconfidence (mada) and self-deception, which oppose the Dharmic virtues of prudence and truthfulness.