Shloka 10

Mārkaṇḍeya’s Consolation to the King: Exempla of Rāma and the Efficacy of Allies (मार्कण्डेयाश्वासनम्)

Devanagari script

दशग्रीवस्तु सर्वेषां श्रेष्ठो राक्षसपुड्भव: । महोत्साहो महावीरयों महासत्त्वपराक्रम:,रावणके दस मस्तक थे। वही सबमें ज्येष्ठ तथा राक्षसोंका स्वामी था। उत्साह, बल, धैर्य और पराक्रममें भी वह महान्‌ था

Transliteration

Daśagrīvas tu sarveṣāṃ śreṣṭho rākṣasapuṅgavaḥ | mahotsāho mahāvīryo mahāsattvaparākramaḥ ||

Translation

Daśagrīva (Rāvaṇa) bertubuh sepuluh kepala; ia yang terdepan di antara semuanya, pemimpin utama para rākṣasa. Ia memiliki daya usaha yang besar, kepahlawanan yang agung, keteguhan jiwa, dan keperkasaan yang dahsyat.

Word by Word

दशग्रीवःRāvaṇa (the ten-necked/ten-headed one)

तुbut/indeed

सर्वेषाम्of all

श्रेष्ठःthe best/supreme

राक्षसपुङ्गवःthe foremost of the Rākṣasas

महोत्साहःof great energy/enthusiasm

महावीर्यःof great strength/valor

महासत्त्वपराक्रमःhaving great courage and prowess

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

म

मार्कण्डेय (Mārkaṇḍeya)

द

दशग्रीव / रावण (Daśagrīva / Rāvaṇa)

र

राक्षस (Rākṣasas)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that extraordinary strength, courage, and initiative are morally neutral capacities: they become admirable when aligned with dharma and restraint, but perilous when fueled by ego and unrighteous aims. Great power without ethical governance can magnify harm.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya is describing Rāvaṇa (Daśagrīva), presenting him as the foremost among the Rākṣasas and emphasizing his exceptional energy, heroism, and prowess—setting the stage for understanding the scale of the figure involved in the broader Rāma–Rāvaṇa narrative.