Shloka 22

अष्टत्रिंशः सर्गः — मारीचोपदेशः

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

Devanagari script

एवमस्मि तदा मुक्तस्सहायास्तु निपातिताः।अकृतास्त्रेण बालेन रामेणाक्लिष्टकर्मणा।।3.38.22।।

Transliteration

evam asmi tadā muktaḥ sahāyās tu nipātitāḥ | akṛtāstreṇa bālena rāmeṇākliṣṭakarmaṇā || 3.38.22 ||

Translation

ഇങ്ങനെ അന്ന് ഞാൻ രക്ഷപ്പെട്ടു; എന്നാൽ എന്റെ സഹചാരികൾ വീണുപോയി—അസ്ത്രവിദ്യ പൂർണ്ണമായി അഭ്യസിക്കാതിരുന്നിട്ടും, അക്ലിഷ്ടകർമ്മനായ യുവ രാമൻ അവരെ നിഗ്രഹിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• evam: thus/in that way
• evam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (manner adverb)

• asmi: I am/was
• asmi: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; 'I am' (here with implied past sense via context)

• tadā: then
• tadā: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) (time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय

• muktaḥ: spared/released
• muktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (of state)
• Type: Verb
• Root: muc (धातु) + mukta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; predicative: 'released/spared'

• sahāyāḥ: companions
• sahāyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (of 'nipātitāḥ')
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) (discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), contrast/emphasis

• nipātitāḥ: were felled/killed
• nipātitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (of passive state)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-pat (धातु) + nipātita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; 'were struck down'

• akṛta-astreṇa: by (one) untrained in weapons
• akṛta-astreṇa: Karana (करण) / Agent-in-passive (कर्तृ-तृतीया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-kṛta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + astra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नञ्-तत्पुरुष: akṛtam astram yasya/with respect to astra; पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; adjective qualifying 'rāmeṇa'

• bālena: by the young (boy)
• bālena: Karana (करण) / Agent-in-passive (कर्तृ-तृतीया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; adjective qualifying 'rāmeṇa'

• rāmeṇa: by Rama
• rāmeṇa: Karana (करण) / Agent-in-passive (कर्तृ-तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• akliṣṭa-karmaṇā: by (one) whose actions are effortless
• akliṣṭa-karmaṇā: Karana (करण) / Agent-in-passive (कर्तृ-तृतीया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-kliṣṭa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/नञ्-तत्पुरुष (sense: 'untroubled in deeds'); पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; adjective qualifying 'rāmeṇa'

Context

If you pick up conflict with Rama even while being warned by me you will soon face adreadful calamity.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Kabandha

FAQs

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

Dharma-protecting power does not depend merely on display of technique; it is supported by inner steadiness and rightful intent.

What is the narrative situation?

Kabandha contrasts his own survival with the death of his followers, emphasizing Rāma’s extraordinary capability.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Effortless competence in righteous action (akliṣṭakarmatā)—doing what must be done without ego or excess.