Shloka 18

मारीचोपदेशः — Maricha’s Counsel to Ravana

On Rama’s Dharma and the Peril of Abduction

Devanagari script

अप्रमेयं हि तत्तेजो यस्य सा जनकात्मजा।न त्वं समर्थस्तां हर्तुं रामचापाश्रयं वने।।।।

Transliteration

aprameyaṃ hi tat tejo yasya sā janakātmajā | na tvaṃ samarthas tāṃ hartuṃ rāma-cāpāśrayaṃ vane ||

Translation

ജനകനന്ദിനിയായ സീതയെ സ്വന്തമാക്കിയ അവന്റെ തേജസ് അളവറ്റതാണ്. വനത്തിൽ രാമന്റെ ധനുസ്സിന്റെ ആശ്രയത്തിൽ നിൽക്കുന്ന അവളെ നീ അപഹരിക്കാൻ കഴിവുള്ളവനല്ല.

Word by Word

• अप्रमेयम्: immeasurable
• अप्रमेयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-प्रमेय (√मा, कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण—immeasurable

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

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषण—that

• तेजः: power, splendor
• तेजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृ/विषय (subject)

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध—whose

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्ता/विषय—she

• जनक-आत्मजा: Janaka's daughter (Sita)
• जनक-आत्मजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनक (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—जनकस्य आत्मजा (daughter of Janaka)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम? (actually 2nd person pronoun), प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्ता— you

• समर्थः: capable
• समर्थः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण—capable

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म—her

• हर्तुम्: to abduct
• हर्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), अव्यय; अर्थः— to take away/abduct

• राम-चाप-आश्रयम्: under the refuge of Rama's bow
• राम-चाप-आश्रयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक) + चाप (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—रामस्य चापस्य आश्रयम् (under the shelter of Rama's bow)

• वने: in the forest
• वने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (locative), एकवचन; अधिकरण— in the forest

Context

Beautiful Sita happens to be the wife of Rama who is like a lion among men. Ramahas a broad chest like that of a lion. He loves Sita who is ever loyal to him, more than his life.

Characters & Entities

• Mārīca
• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā
• Janaka
• Rāma
• forest (Daṇḍaka context)

FAQs

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

Dharma is portrayed as protective power: the righteous protector’s tejas makes injustice futile; wrongdoing meets rightful resistance.

What is the narrative situation?

Mārīca asserts Rāma’s immeasurable might and warns that Sītā cannot be taken while guarded by Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s steadfast guardianship and strength aligned with righteousness.