Shloka 21

मारीचप्रलोभनम् / Ravana Solicits Maricha’s Aid

Golden Deer Stratagem

Devanagari script

ततः पश्चात्सुखं रामे भार्याहरणकर्शिते।विस्रब्धः प्रहरिष्यामि कृतार्थेनान्तरात्मना।।।।

Transliteration

tataḥ paścāt sukhaṃ rāme bhāryāharaṇakarśite |

visrabdhaḥ prahariṣyāmi kṛtārthenāntarātmanā ||

Translation

അതിന് ശേഷം ഭാര്യാപഹരണവേദനയിൽ ക്ളേശിതനായ രാമനെ കണ്ടാൽ, ലക്ഷ്യം സിദ്ധിച്ചതെന്ന അന്തർസന്തോഷത്തോടെയും ആത്മവിശ്വാസത്തോടെയും ഞാൻ സുഖമായി അവനെ പ്രഹരിക്കും.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• paścāt: afterwards
• paścāt: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paścāt (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb of time (कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण)

• sukham: happily/with ease
• sukham: Prakaraṇa (प्रकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; used adverbially (क्रियाविशेषणवत्)

• rāme: in/with regard to Rama
• rāme: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• bhāryā-haraṇa-karśite: in Rama, afflicted by the abduction of (his) wife
• bhāryā-haraṇa-karśite: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhāryā (प्रातिपदिक) + haraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + karśita (कृदन्त, कृ-धातु/कृश्?; here karśita 'afflicted' from kṛś/कृश्)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; karśita = past passive participle (क्त) used adjectivally; Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular agreeing with rāme

• visrabdhaḥ: confident/unhesitating
• visrabdhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: visrabdha (कृदन्त; √sraṃs/√śrambh? lexical 'confident, unafraid')
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate to subject (I)

• prahariṣyāmi: I will strike/attack
• prahariṣyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + hṛ (धातु) / √hṛ 'to strike/take' with pra-; here 'to strike'
• Form: Luṭ/Lṛṭ (Simple Future/लृट्), Parasmaipada, Uttama-puruṣa, Singular

• kṛta-arthena: with success/with purpose achieved
• kṛta-arthena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त; √kṛ) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: 'accomplished-purpose/successful'; Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; used adverbially 'with a fulfilled mind'

• antar-ātmanā: with (my) inner mind
• antar-ātmanā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antar (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: 'inner self'; Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

Context

Thereafter, when Rama with his soul afflicted due to his wife's abduction. I can freely, happily, successfully strike him down.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā

FAQs

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

The verse shows adharma compounding wrongdoing: first abducting, then exploiting grief to attack. Dharma forbids taking advantage of another’s suffering and condemns violence rooted in selfish gain.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa states his intention to defeat Rāma after destabilizing him emotionally through Sītā’s abduction.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The virtue of kṣamā and steadiness under suffering is implicitly foregrounded as what a dharmic hero must embody—precisely what Rāvaṇa hopes to undermine in Rāma.