Shloka 18

Devanagari script

विचेतनं विघूर्णन्तं शीतेषु बलताडितम्।निरस्तं दृश्य मारीचं रामो लक्ष्मणमब्रवीत्।।।।

Transliteration

vicetanaṃ vighūrṇantaṃ śīteṣu balatāḍitam | nirastaṃ dṛśya mārīcaṃ rāmo lakṣmaṇam abravīt ||

Translation

ព្រះរាមបានឃើញមារីចត្រូវបោះចោលឆ្ងាយ—សន្លប់ វិលវល់ និងត្រូវកម្លាំងអាវុធព្រួញត្រជាក់វាយបំបាក់—ហើយព្រះរាមបានមានព្រះបន្ទូលទៅកាន់លក្ខ្មណៈ។

Word by Word

• vicetanam: unconscious
• vicetanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vicetana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); used adjectivally qualifying mārīcam

• vighūrṇantam: reeling
• vighūrṇantam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi + ghūrṇ (धातु) > vighūrṇant (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Vartamāna-kṛdanta (present active participle/शतृ), Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; qualifying mārīcam

• śīteṣum: the cool-arrow (Śīta weapon)
• śīteṣum: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śīta + iṣu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāsa: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) = śītaḥ iṣuḥ; Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• balatāḍitam: struck by (its) force
• balatāḍitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bala + tāḍita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāsa: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) = balena tāḍitam; Past passive participle (क्त), Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; qualifying mārīcam

• nirastam: thrown away
• nirastam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nis + as (धातु) > nirasta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; qualifying mārīcam

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), avyaya usage

• mārīcam: Mārīca
• mārīcam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārīca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• rāmaḥ: Rāma
• rāmaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana

• lakṣmaṇam: to Lakṣmaṇa (addressing)
• lakṣmaṇam: Sampradāna/Āmantraṇa (सम्प्रदान/आमन्त्रण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; sambodhana-artha (addressed) though form is accusative

• abravīt: said/spoke
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (लङ्, past/imperfect), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana, Parasmaipada

Context

Having seen Maricha beaten by the power of that cool-arrowed astra, thrown to a distance, reeling and lying unconscious, Rama spoke to Lakshmana:

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Mārīca

FAQs

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

Dharma is not mere destruction; it can be restraint—neutralizing harm while avoiding unnecessary killing when the aim is protection.

What is the narrative situation?

Mārīca is incapacitated and expelled; Rāma turns to Lakṣmaṇa to comment on the weapon’s nature and the next action.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-restraint and discernment: Rāma recognizes proportionate force as part of righteous conduct.