Shloka 1

मारीचस्य रावणं प्रति नीत्युपदेशः

Maricha’s Counsel on Kingship and Ruin to Ravana

Devanagari script

आज्ञप्तो राजवद्वाक्यं प्रतिकूलं निशाचरः।अब्रवीत्परुषं वाक्यं मारीचो राक्षसाधिपम्।।।।

Transliteration

ājñapto rājavad vākyaṃ pratikūlaṃ niśācaraḥ |

abravīt paruṣaṃ vākyaṃ mārīco rākṣasādhipam ||3.41.1||

Translation

രാജാജ്ഞപോലെ, തന്റെ വിവേചനത്തിന് വിരുദ്ധമായ കല്പന ലഭിച്ചതോടെ, നിശാചരനായ മാരീചൻ രാക്ഷസാധിപനോടു കടുത്ത വാക്കുകൾ പറഞ്ഞു.

Word by Word

• आज्ञप्तः: having been commanded
• आज्ञप्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle): "commanded"; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• राजवत्: royally
• राजवत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: राजवत् (अव्यय/तद्धित)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमानवाचक (like a king/royally)

• वाक्यम्: speech, words
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रतिकूलम्: hostile, adverse
• प्रतिकूलम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतिकूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of वाक्यम्)

• निशाचरः: the night-ranger (demon)
• निशाचरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशाचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• परुषम्: harsh
• परुषम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of वाक्यम्)

• वाक्यम्: speech
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मारीचः: Mārīca
• मारीचः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मारीच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• राक्षसाधिपम्: lord of the demons
• राक्षसाधिपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस + अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (राक्षसानाम् अधिपः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

Context

At this royal command which was against his interest Maracha used harsh words to the demon-king:

Characters & Entities

• Mārīca
• Rāvaṇa
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Dharma in counsel involves speaking truth to power, even at personal risk. The verse marks a shift: Mārīca, pressured by authority, still responds—signaling the moral duty of warning.

What is the narrative situation?

After being commanded by Rāvaṇa, Mārīca begins his reply, described as harsh due to the coercive and dangerous context.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The virtue is frankness in counsel (even if sharp), arising from awareness of impending danger and the need to restrain wrongdoing.