Shloka 24

अष्टत्रिंशः सर्गः — मारीचोपदेशः

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

Devanagari script

क्रीडारतिविधिज्ञानां समाजोत्सवशालिनाम्।रक्षसां चैव सन्तापमनर्थं चाहरिष्यसि।।3.38.24।।

Transliteration

krīḍāratividhijñānāṃ samājotsavaśālinām | rakṣasāṃ caiva santāpaṃ anarthaṃ cāhariṣyasi || 3.38.24 ||

Translation

ക്രീഡാരതിയിലും വിധിജ്ഞാനത്തിലും നിപുണരായി, സമൂഹോത്സവങ്ങളിൽ ശോഭിക്കുന്ന രാക്ഷസർക്കും നീ ദുഃഖവും അനർത്ഥവും—നാശവും—വരുത്തും.

Word by Word

• krīḍā-rati-vidhi-jñānām: of those knowledgeable in play, pleasure, and rites
• krīḍā-rati-vidhi-jñānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) (genitive: 'of ...')
• Type: Noun
• Root: krīḍā (प्रातिपदिक) + rati (प्रातिपदिक) + vidhi (प्रातिपदिक) + jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (determinative chain: 'knowledge of play, love-sport, and rites'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (jñāna as head), षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• samāja-utsava-śālinām: of the festival-celebrating (in assemblies)
• samāja-utsava-śālinām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samāja (प्रातिपदिक) + utsava (प्रातिपदिक) + śālin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative: 'possessing community-festivals/being festive in assemblies'); पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; adjective qualifying 'rakṣasām' (implied)

• rakṣasām: of the demons
• rakṣasām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (collective), षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• santāpam: grief/torment
• santāpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: santāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• anartham: disaster/misfortune
• anartham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anartha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• āhariṣyasi: you will bring
• āhariṣyasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-hṛ (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Context

You will see the city of Lanka dotted with magnificent royal mansions embellished with different kinds of gems ruined for the sake of Sita.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Rākṣasāḥ (demons)

FAQs

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

A ruler’s adharma harms not only himself but also his dependents; leadership carries collective moral responsibility.

What is the narrative situation?

Kabandha predicts that Rāvaṇa’s choices will cause suffering to Laṅkā’s rākṣasa society.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Responsible kingship by implication—self-control and foresight, without which a leader becomes the cause of communal ruin.