Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 7, Shloka 12

राक्षसपरिषद्वाक्यम्

Counsel of the Rakshasa Court to Ravana

Devanagari script

अक्षयाबलवन्तश्चशूरालब्धवराःपुनः ।त्वयासंवत्सरंयुद्ध्वासमरेदानवाविभो ।।।।

Transliteration

akṣayā balavantaś ca śūrā labdhavarāḥ punaḥ |

tvayā saṃvatsaraṃ yuddhvā samare dānavā vibho ||

Translation

ಹೇ ವಿಭೋ, ಮಹಾಪ್ರಭು! ಅಕ್ಷಯರೂ, ಬಲವಂತರೂ, ಶೂರರೂ, ವರಪ್ರಾಪ್ತರೂ ಆದ ದಾನವರೂ ಸಹ ನಿನ್ನೊಡನೆ ಸಮರದಲ್ಲಿ ಪೂರ್ಣ ಒಂದು ವರ್ಷ ಯುದ್ಧ ಮಾಡಿದರು.

Word by Word

• अक्षयाः: imperishable
• अक्षयाः: विशेषण (Karta-viśeṣaṇa/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन — adjective qualifying दानवाः

• बलवन्तः: strong
• बलवन्तः: विशेषण (Karta-viśeṣaṇa/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन — adjective qualifying दानवाः

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Samuccaya/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• शूराः: heroes
• शूराः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन — ‘heroes’ (also adjectival)

• लब्ध-वराः: having obtained boons
• लब्ध-वराः: विशेषण (Karta-viśeṣaṇa/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लभ् (धातु) + वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त (PPP) ‘लब्ध’ + ‘वर’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन — ‘having obtained boons’

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/पुनरावृत्तिबोधक अव्यय (adverb) — ‘again’

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: करण (Karaṇa/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन — instrumental ‘by you’

• संवत्सरम्: for a year
• संवत्सरम्: कालाधिकरण (Kāla-adhikaraṇa/काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संवत्सर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — duration (accusative of time) ‘for a year’

• युद्ध्वा: having fought
• युद्ध्वा: पूर्वकाल (Pūrvakāla-kriyā/पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund) — ‘having fought’

• समरे: in battle
• समरे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन — locative ‘in battle’

• दानवाः: Danavas
• दानवाः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन — subject

• विभो: O lord
• विभो: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन — address

Context

"The mighty and strong Danava warriors who had obtained boon were made to fight a war by you for one year."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Dānavas

FAQs

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

Endurance and strength are ethically neutral; Ramayana’s dharma lens evaluates whether such prowess serves truth (satya) and protection, or fuels pride and wrongdoing.

What is the narrative situation?

The Rākṣasas amplify Rāvaṇa’s reputation by recalling prolonged warfare against powerful, boon-protected Dānavas.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Stamina and martial persistence—presented as greatness by the speakers, though the epic later contrasts such might with dharmic conduct.