Shloka 29

माल्यवानुपदेशः

Malyavan’s Counsel, Portents in Laṅkā, and the Proposal of Alliance

Devanagari script

काळिकाःपाण्डुरैर्दन्तै: प्रहसन्त्यग्रतःस्थिताः ।स्त्रियस्स्वप्नेषुमुष्ण्नत्योगृहाणिप्रतिभाष्यच ।।।।

Transliteration

kāḷikāḥ pāṇḍurair dantaiḥ prahasanti agrataḥ sthitāḥ | striyaḥ svapneṣu muṣṇantyo gṛhāṇi pratibhāṣya ca ||

Translation

ໃນຄວາມຝັນ ມີຍິງຜິວດຳດັ່ງຖ່ານ ຟັນຂາວຈືດ ຢືນຢູ່ຕໍ່ໜ້າ ແລ້ວຫົວເຮາະດັງ; ເວົ້າຖ້ອຍຄຳອັບມົງຄົນ ປານກັບປົ້ນເຮືອນເຮືອນ—ເປັນລາງຮ້າຍ

Word by Word

• काळिकाः: black female spirits/witches
• काळिकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काळिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• पाण्डुरैः: with pale/whitish
• पाण्डुरैः: Karana-anvaya (करण-अन्वय; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाण्डुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• दन्तैः: teeth
• दन्तैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• प्रहसन्ति: laugh loudly
• प्रहसन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; उपसर्ग: प्र-

• अग्रतः: in front
• अग्रतः: Desha-adhikarana (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अग्रतः (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place: ‘in front’)

• स्थिताः: standing
• स्थिताः: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-अन्वय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) ‘स्थित’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• स्त्रियः: women
• स्त्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• स्वप्नेषु: in dreams
• स्वप्नेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वप्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• मुष्णन्त्यः: stealing/plundering
• मुष्णन्त्यः: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-अन्वय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुष् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ) ‘मुष्णत्’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्तरि-विशेषण

• गृहाणि: houses
• गृहाणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• प्रतिभाष्य: having spoken/addressed
• प्रतिभाष्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति-भाष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

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

Context

"Women of dark colour like coal with yellow teeth are speaking unpleasant things standing before us in dreams laughing heartily."

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā (implied)

FAQs

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

A ruler’s dharma is vigilance: when signs indicate disorder, one must examine one’s own wrongdoing and restore righteousness rather than ignore warnings.

What is the narrative situation?

Disturbing dream-visions are reported as portents foretelling danger to Laṅkā and its households.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral courage to interpret and report unsettling signs truthfully (satya) for the common good.