Shloka 15

मारीचप्रलोभनम् / Ravana Solicits Maricha’s Aid

Golden Deer Stratagem

Devanagari script

त्वया ह्यहं सहायेन पार्श्वस्थेन महाबल।।3.36.14।।भ्रातृभिश्च सुरान्युद्धे समग्रान्नाभिचिन्तये।तत्सहायो भव त्वं मे समर्थो ह्यसि राक्षस।।3.36.15।।

Transliteration

vīrye yuddhe ca darpe ca na hy asti sadṛśas tava | upāya-jño mahān śūras sarva-māyā-viśāradaḥ || 3.36.16 ||

Translation

വീര്യത്തിലും യുദ്ധത്തിലും ദർപ്പത്തിലും പോലും നിനക്കു തുല്യൻ ആരുമില്ല. നീ ഉപായജ്ഞൻ, മഹാശൂരൻ, എല്ലാ മായാവിദ്യകളിലും വിശാരദൻ.

Word by Word

• तत्: therefore
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययप्रयोग (adverbial: 'therefore/for that reason')

• सहायः: a helper
• सहायः: Kartṛ-sāmānādhikaraṇya (कर्तृ-सामानाधिकरण्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate)

• भव: be
• भव: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार, मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• मे: to me / my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• समर्थः: capable
• समर्थः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (त्वम्)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• असि: you are
• असि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• राक्षस: O demon
• राक्षस: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Context

You are mighty. I do not care to fight even the gods when you and my brothers are by my side. Therefore, O demon, be my accomplice. (I know) you are capable of that.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Mārīca

FAQs

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

Skill and intelligence are ethically neutral; dharma depends on purpose and method. Here, praise of māyā and stratagems signals a turn from righteous means toward deception.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa flatters Mārīca’s prowess and expertise in illusion to recruit him for a trick-based operation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The trait emphasized is capability in strategy and illusion; ethically, the verse invites reflection on using talents responsibly rather than for harm.