Shloka 48

अकम्पनवृत्तान्तः

Akampana Reports Janasthana; Ravana Plans Sita’s Abduction

Devanagari script

चापापहारे भुजवेगपङ्के शरोर्मिमाले सुमहाहवौघे।न रामपातालमुखेऽतिघोरे प्रस्कन्दितुं राक्षसराज युक्तम्।।3.31.48।।

Transliteration

cāpāpahāre bhuja-vega-paṅke śarormi-māle su-mahā-havaughе | na rāma-pātāla-mukhe 'ti-ghore praskandituṃ rākṣasa-rāja yuktam || 3.31.48 ||

Translation

ഹേ രാക്ഷസരാജാ! അതിഘോരമായ പാതാളമുഖംപോലെ ഉള്ള രാമനിലേക്കു ചാടിക്കയറുന്നത് യുക്തമല്ല. അവിടെ മഹാസമരത്തിന്റെ പ്രളയപ്രവാഹം വലുതാണ്; ഭുജവേഗം ചുഴികളുള്ള ചെളിപോലെ, അവന്റെ ശരങ്ങൾ തിരമാലകളുടെ നിരപോലെ അഖണ്ഡമായി നിലകൊള്ളുന്നു.

Word by Word

• cāpa-apahāre: in the stealing of the bow
• cāpa-apahāre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + apahāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (cāpasya apahāraḥ) used in सप्तमी: 'in/at the bow-stealing (act)'

• bhuja-vega-paṅke: in the mire of arm-speed
• bhuja-vega-paṅke: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhuja (प्रातिपदिक) + vega (प्रातिपदिक) + paṅka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः: 'arms' + 'speed' qualifying 'mud' (paṅkaḥ) -> 'mud of arm-speed' (metaphor: whirlpool-like mire)

• śara-ūrmi-māle: in the garland of arrow-waves
• śara-ūrmi-māle: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक) + ūrmi (प्रातिपदिक) + mālā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; तत्पुरुषः: 'garland/row (mālā)' of 'waves (ūrmi)' of 'arrows (śara)'

• su-mahā-hava-oghe: in the torrent of the very great battle
• su-mahā-hava-oghe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + hava (प्रातिपदिक) + ogha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; तत्पुरुषः: 'flood/stream (ogha)' of 'battle (hava)' qualified by 'very great (su-mahā)'

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• rāma-pātāla-mukhe: in the (place like) the mouth of the netherworld called Rāma
• rāma-pātāla-mukhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक) + pātāla (प्रातिपदिक) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; तत्पुरुषः: 'mouth (mukha)' of 'netherworld (pātāla)' associated with 'Rāma' (metaphor: 'Rāma is like the mouth of pātāla')

• ati-ghore: in the exceedingly dreadful (one)
• ati-ghore: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati (अव्यय/पूर्वपद) + ghora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; विशेषणम् of rāma-pātāla-mukhe; ati = intensifier

• praskanditum: to leap into / to attack
• praskanditum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + skand (धातु)
• Form: Tumun-anta (तुमुन्/infinitive), 'to leap/assault'; upasarga: pra-; expresses purpose/action intended

• rākṣasa-rāja: O king of demons
• rākṣasa-rāja: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक) + rāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; तत्पुरुषः: 'king (rāja)' of 'demons (rākṣasa)'

• yuktam: proper / appropriate
• yuktam: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yukta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √yuj धातु)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; past passive participle used predicatively: 'proper/fit'; impersonal construction with infinitive (praskanditum ... na yuktam)

Context

O king of demons ! it is not proper (for you) to jump into the extremely fierce mouth of the nether world known as Rama. Who can steal the bow from his mighty arms which are whirlpools of mud. His arrows are rows of waves in the flow of the great war.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Rāma
• Pātāla (netherworld) (metaphor)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes avoiding reckless aggression rooted in desire; when the intended act is unjust, the ‘battle’ it invites is likened to plunging into a fatal abyss.

What is the narrative situation?

Mārīca depicts confrontation with Rāma as entering a terrifying, inescapable realm, discouraging Rāvaṇa from initiating conflict through Sītā’s abduction.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Strategic wisdom: recognizing when an action is both immoral and catastrophically imprudent.