Shloka 16

मारीचप्रलोभनम् / Ravana Solicits Maricha’s Aid

Golden Deer Stratagem

Devanagari script

वीर्ये युद्धे च दर्पे च न ह्यस्ति सदृशस्तव।उपायज्ञो महान्शूरस्सर्वमायाविशारदः।।।।

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

• वीर्ये: in valour
• वीर्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• युद्धे: in war
• युद्धे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात

• दर्पे: in pride
• दर्पे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

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

• अस्ति: there is
• अस्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• सदृशः: equal
• सदृशः: Kartṛ-sāmānādhikaraṇya (कर्तृ-सामानाधिकरण्य)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (तव) विशेषणार्थे, 'equal (to you)'

• तव: of you / to you
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उपायज्ञः: knower of stratagems
• उपायज्ञः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपाय (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (उपायान् जानाति इति), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महान्: great
• महान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• शूरः: hero / brave one
• शूरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सर्व-माया-विशारदः: expert in all magical/deceptive arts
• सर्व-माया-विशारदः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + माया (प्रातिपदिक) + विशारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सर्वासु मायासु विशारदः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

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.