Shloka 45

Devanagari script

यदन्तरं सिंहशृगालयोर्वने यदन्तरं स्यन्दिनिका समुद्रयोः।सुराग्र्य सौवीरकयोर्यदन्तरं तदन्तरं वै तव राघवस्य च।।3.47.45।।

Transliteration

yadantaraṁ siṁhaśṛgālayor vane yadantaraṁ syandinikā samudrayoḥ | surāgrya sauvīrakayor yadantaraṁ tadantaraṁ vai tava rāghavasya ca || 3.47.45 ||

Translation

वन में सिंह और सियार के बीच जितना अंतर है, नाले और समुद्र के बीच जितना अंतर है, उत्तम सुरा और खट्टे सौवीरक के बीच जितना अंतर है—उतना ही अंतर तेरे और राघव के बीच है।

Word by Word

• yad: whatever/that which
• yad: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; correlating relative pronoun with tad

• antaram: difference
• antaram: Pradhāna (प्रधान/Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antara (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; 'difference/interval'

• siṃha-śṛgālayoḥ: between a lion and a jackal
• siṃha-śṛgālayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siṃha (प्रातिपदik) + śṛgāla (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Dvivacana; dvandva in genitive dual: 'of lion and jackal'

• vane: in the forest
• vane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Napumsaka, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• yad: whatever
• yad: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• antaram: difference
• antaram: Pradhāna (प्रधान/Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antara (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• syandinikā-samudrayoḥ: between a ditch and the sea
• syandinikā-samudrayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: syandinikā (प्रातिपदik) + samudra (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Dvivacana; dvandva: syandinikā (ditch/channel) and samudra (sea)

• surāgrya-sauvīrakayoḥ: between fine wine and sour gruel
• surāgrya-sauvīrakayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: surāgrya (प्रातिपदik) + sauvīraka (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Napumsaka, Ṣaṣṭhī, Dvivacana; dvandva: surāgrya (best wine) and sauvīraka (sour gruel)

• yad: whatever
• yad: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• antaram: difference
• antaram: Pradhāna (प्रधान/Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antara (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• tad: that
• tad: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; correlative pronoun

• antaram: difference
• antaram: Pradhāna (प्रधान/Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antara (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic particle (निपात)

• tava: of you/your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• rāghavasya: of Rāghava
• rāghavasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

Context

The difference between you and Rama is the difference between a jackal and a lion in the forest, between a ditch and the sea, and between sour gruel and the best of wines.

Characters & Entities

• Mārīca
• Rāvaṇa
• Rāghava (Rāma)

FAQs

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

Dharma demands truthful assessment of strength and right: ignoring reality and righteousness leads to reckless adharma and downfall.

What is the narrative situation?

Mārīca bluntly contrasts Rāvaṇa with Rāma to deter him from provoking a superior, righteous opponent.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s greatness and rightful power; and the virtue of humility in recognizing moral and martial superiority.