Shloka 17

अष्टत्रिंशः सर्गः — मारीचोपदेशः

Maricha’s Warning and the Memory of Rama’s Power

Devanagari script

तेन दृष्टः प्रविष्टोऽहं सहसैवोद्यतायुधः।मां तु दृष्ट्वा धनुस्सज्यमसम्भ्रान्तश्चकार सः।।3.38.17।।

Transliteration

tena dṛṣṭaḥ praviṣṭo ’haṁ sahasaivodyatāyudhaḥ |

māṁ tu dṛṣṭvā dhanuḥ sajyam asambhrāntaś cakāra saḥ || 3.38.17 ||

Translation

അവൻ എന്നെ കണ്ടയുടൻ ഞാൻ ആയുധങ്ങൾ ഉയർത്തി പെട്ടെന്നു കയറി ചെന്നു; എന്നാൽ എന്നെ കണ്ടപ്പോൾ അവൻ ഭ്രമമില്ലാതെ, അചഞ്ചലനായി, ധനുസ്സിൽ ഞാണു കെട്ടി സജ്ജനായി.

Word by Word

• avajānan: disregarding/underestimating
• avajānan: Karta (कर्ता; aham)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-√jñā (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• mohāt: from delusion
• mohāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: moha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; हेत्वर्थ (cause)

• bālaḥ: a boy
• bālaḥ: Pratijñā (प्रतिज्ञा/quoted content)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उक्तिविषय (quoted predicate)

• ayam: this (one)
• ayam: Pratijñā (प्रतिज्ञा/quoted content)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• iti: thinking/‘that’
• iti: Vākyārtha-dyotaka (वाक्यार्थ-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यादि-उक्त्यर्थक (quotative particle)

• rāghavam: Raghava (Rama)
• rāghavam: Karma (कर्म; avajānan)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• viśvāmitrasya: of Visvamitra
• viśvāmitrasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśvāmitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• tām: that
• tām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of vediṃ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• vedim: altar
• vedim: Karma (कर्म; abhyadhāvam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vedi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• abhyadhāvam: I ran toward
• abhyadhāvam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√dhāv (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• kṛta-tvaraḥ: in haste
• kṛta-tvaraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of aham)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta + tvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (यस्य त्वराः कृताः)

Context

Then looking like a dark cloud, wearing bright golden ear-rings, proud of power bestowed on me with boons, I arrived at the hermitage.

Characters & Entities

• Mārīca
• Rāma
• dhanuḥ (bow)
• āyudha (weapon)

FAQs

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

Dharma-driven strength is steady, not reactive: the righteous protector meets threat with composed readiness rather than panic.

What is the narrative situation?

Mārīca describes his aggressive entry and Rāma’s calm preparation to respond.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Dhairya (steadfast composure) in the face of danger—Rāma’s controlled courage.