Shloka 21

अकम्पनवृत्तान्तः

Akampana Reports Janasthana; Ravana Plans Sita’s Abduction

Devanagari script

अकम्पनवचश्रुत्वा रावणो वाक्यमब्रवीत्।जनस्थानं गमिष्यामि हन्तुं रामं सलक्ष्मणम्।।3.31.21।।

Transliteration

akampanavacaḥ śrutvā rāvaṇo vākyam abravīt |

janasthānaṃ gamiṣyāmi hantuṃ rāmaṃ salakṣmaṇam ||3.31.21||

Translation

അകമ്പനന്റെ വാക്കുകൾ കേട്ട റാവണൻ പറഞ്ഞു: “ഞാൻ ജനസ്ഥാനത്തിലേക്കു പോയി ലക്ഷ്മണനോടുകൂടിയ ശ്രീരാമനെ വധിക്കും.”

Word by Word

• akampana-vacaḥ: Akampana's words
• akampana-vacaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akampana (प्रातिपदिक) + vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन) in compound sense; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: akampanasya vacaḥ (Akampana's words)

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), indeclinable; prior action

• rāvaṇaḥ: Rāvaṇa
• rāvaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• vākyam: speech/words
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ-lakāra (लुङ्/Aorist), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• janasthānam: to Janasthāna
• janasthānam: Gati/Karma (गति/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janasthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); goal of motion

• gamiṣyāmi: I will go
• gamiṣyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ-lakāra (लुट्/Future), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• hantum: to kill
• hantum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: han (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), indeclinable verbal form; purpose

• rāmam: Rāma
• rāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• sa-lakṣmaṇam: with Lakṣmaṇa
• sa-lakṣmaṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्ग-सदृश) + lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); अव्ययीभाव: sa + lakṣmaṇam = ‘together with Lakṣmaṇa’ qualifying rāmam

Context

Wherever the demons went they, gripped by fear, only saw Rama in front. O sinless sire In this manner your Janasthana was destroyed by him.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Akampana
• Janasthāna
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa

FAQs

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

It illustrates adharma’s response to truth: instead of reflection and restraint, Rāvaṇa chooses vengeance, deepening moral downfall.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa reacts to the report of Janasthāna’s destruction by declaring his intent to personally kill Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

A negative trait is foregrounded: wrathful pride and retaliatory intent, opposed to dharmic self-control.