Shloka 27

अष्टत्रिंशः सर्गः — मारीचोपदेशः

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

Devanagari script

दिव्यचन्दनदिग्धाङ्गान्दिव्याभरणभूषितान्।द्रक्ष्यस्यभिहतान्भूमौ तव दोषात्तु राक्षसान्।।3.38.27।।

Transliteration

akurvanto 'pi pāpāni śucayaḥ pāpasaṃśrayāt | parapāpair vinaśyanti matsyā nāgahrade yathā || 3.38.26 ||

Translation

സ്വയം പാപം ചെയ്യാതിരുന്നാലും ശുദ്ധന്മാർ ദുഷ്ടരുടെ ആശ്രയം സ്വീകരിച്ചാൽ മറ്റുള്ളവരുടെ പാപം മൂലം നശിക്കുന്നു—സർപ്പങ്ങൾ നിറഞ്ഞ കുളത്തിൽ മത്സ്യങ്ങൾ നശിക്കുന്നതുപോലെ.

Word by Word

• divya-candana-digdha-aṅgān: with limbs smeared with divine sandal
• divya-candana-digdha-aṅgān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: divya (प्रातिपदिक) + candana (प्रातिपदिक) + digdha (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: 'whose limbs are smeared with divine sandal'; पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; adjective qualifying 'rākṣasān'

• divya-ābharaṇa-bhūṣitān: adorned with divine ornaments
• divya-ābharaṇa-bhūṣitān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: divya (प्रातिपदिक) + ābharaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūṣita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: 'adorned with divine ornaments'; पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; adjective qualifying 'rākṣasān'

• drakṣyasi: you will see
• drakṣyasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• abhihatān: slain/struck down
• abhihatān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi-han (धातु) + abhihata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; adjective qualifying 'rākṣasān'

• bhūmau: on the ground
• bhūmau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• doṣāt: because of (your) fault
• doṣāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: doṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; ablative of cause

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

• rākṣasān: demons
• rākṣasān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

Context

You will see the demons who smear their limbs with sandal paste and unguents, who are adorned with excellent ornaments slain and laid on the ground for your mistakes.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• matsya (fish)
• nāga (serpents)

FAQs

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

Moral environment matters: association with adharma endangers even the innocent; Dharma advises discerning company (saṅga).

What is the narrative situation?

Kabandha cautions that Rāvaṇa’s wrongdoing will destroy even those around him, using a vivid simile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discernment and moral vigilance—choosing righteous association to preserve integrity and life.