Shloka 5

मारीचाश्रमगमनम्

Ravana’s Journey to Maricha’s Hermitage

Devanagari script

एवमुक्तः क्षेणेनैव सारथिर्लघुविक्रमः।रथं संयोजयामास तस्याभिमतमुत्तमम्।।।।

Transliteration

evam uktaḥ kṣaṇenaiva sārathir laghuvikramaḥ |

rathaṃ saṃyojayāmāsa tasyābhimatam uttamam ||

Translation

命を受けるや、敏捷な御者はただちに、主の望みどおりの最上の車を繋ぎ整えた。

Word by Word

• kāñcanam: golden
• kāñcanam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāñcana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन; ‘रथ’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• ratham: chariot
• ratham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन

• āsthāya: having mounted
• āsthāya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā+sthā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund); ‘having mounted/ascended’

• kāmagam: going at will
• kāmagam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāma + ga (प्रातिपदिके; गम्-धातोः ‘ग’ प्रत्यय/उपपद)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (kāmena gamyate = goes as desired); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन; ‘रथ’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• ratnabhūṣitam: adorned with gems
• ratnabhūṣitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ratna + bhūṣita (प्रातिपदिक; भूष्-धातोः क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (ratnaiḥ bhūṣitam); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त

• piśācavadanaiḥ: with demon-faces
• piśācavadanaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण; ‘with’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: piśāca + vadana (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (piśācānām vadanāni); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-बहुवचन (Instrumental plural)

• yuktam: yoked; equipped
• yuktam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yukta (प्रातिपदिक; युज्-धातोः क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘रथ’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• kharaiḥ: with donkeys/mules
• kharaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण; ‘by/with’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-बहुवचन (Instrumental plural)

• kāñcanabhūṣaṇaiḥ: with golden ornaments
• kāñcanabhūṣaṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण; ‘with’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāñcana + bhūṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (kāñcanāni bhūṣaṇāni); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-बहुवचन (Instrumental plural)

• meghapratimanādena: with a cloud-like roar
• meghapratimanādena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: megha + pratima + nāda (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (meghasya pratimaḥ nādaḥ; तेन); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-एकवचन (Instrumental singular)

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

• tena: with that
• tena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-एकवचन (Instrumental singular); सहार्थे/साधनार्थे ‘with that (chariot)’

• dhanadānujaḥ: younger brother of Kubera
• dhanadānujaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanada + anuja (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (dhanadasya anujaḥ); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन

• rākṣasādhipatiḥ: lord of the rākṣasas
• rākṣasādhipatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa + adhipati (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन

• śrīmān: splendid; prosperous
• śrīmān: Karta (कर्ता; कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śrīmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; ‘सम्पन्न/शोभायुक्त’

• yayau: went
• yayau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• nadanadīpatim: to the lord of rivers (ocean)
• nadanadīpatim: Karma (कर्म; गन्तव्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nada + nadī + pati (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (nadānāṃ nadīnām ca patiḥ = समुद्रः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन (Accusative singular)

Context

When king Ravana reached there, Maricha received him in accordance with tradition and made worshipful offering to the king, fulfilling all his superhuman desires.

Characters & Entities

• sārathi (charioteer)
• Rāvaṇa
• ratha (chariot)

FAQs

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

The verse presents efficiency and obedience in service; dharma evaluates such qualities by the righteousness of the goal they support—skill becomes ethically charged by intention.

What is the narrative situation?

The charioteer immediately prepares the vehicle, enabling Rāvaṇa’s swift departure.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The charioteer’s promptness and competence (laghuvikrama) are emphasized, though placed in service of Rāvaṇa’s agenda.