Shloka 31

अष्टत्रिंशः सर्गः — मारीचोपदेशः

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

Devanagari script

भव स्वदारनिरतस्वकुलं रक्ष राक्षस।मानमृद्धिं च राज्यं च जीवितं चेष्टमात्मनः।।3.38.31।।

Transliteration

bhava svadāranirataḥ svakulaṃ rakṣa rākṣasa | mānam ṛddhiṃ ca rājyaṃ ca jīvitaṃ ceṣṭam ātmanaḥ || 3.38.31 ||

Translation

ഹേ രാക്ഷസാ, നീ സ്വന്തം ഭാര്യമാരിൽ നിഷ്ഠനായി ഇരിക്ക; നിന്റെ കുലത്തെ കാത്തുകൊൾക; മാനവും സമൃദ്ധിയും രാജ്യവും, നിനക്കു പ്രിയമായ നിന്റെ ജീവനും സംരക്ഷിക്ക.

Word by Word

• भव: be
• भव: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (singular); परस्मैपदम्

• स्वदारनिरत: devoted to your own wives
• स्वदारनिरत: Karta (कर्ता) (of implied state)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व + दार + निरत (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective) (to implied त्वम्)

• स्वकुलम्: your lineage/family
• स्वकुलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + कुल (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neut), द्वितीया (Acc. 2), एकवचन

• रक्ष: protect
• रक्ष: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• राक्षस: O demon
• राक्षस: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Voc. 8), एकवचन

• मानम्: honour/prestige
• मानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ऋद्धिम्: prosperity
• ऋद्धिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem), द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction/particle)

• राज्यम्: kingdom
• राज्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction/particle)

• जीवितम्: life
• जीवितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction/particle)

• इष्टम्: dear/desired
• इष्टम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इष्ट (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from √इष्/इच्छ्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त/कृतप्रत्यय (past participial adjective)

• आत्मनः: of yourself
• आत्मनः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Gen. 6), एकवचन

Context

O king! there is no sin greater than violating the chastity of others wives, when you have married a thousand lovely women.

Characters & Entities

• Mārīca
• Rāvaṇa
• rākṣasa (clan/people)

FAQs

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

Dharma requires self-restraint and protection of one’s dependents and lineage; personal desire must not endanger kula (family line) and rājya (kingdom).

What is the narrative situation?

Mārīca urges Rāvaṇa to abandon the plan against Sītā and instead preserve his people, honor, and sovereignty.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Responsible rulership: a king should safeguard honor, prosperity, and life by avoiding reckless adharma.