Shloka 3

मारीचस्य रावणं प्रति नीत्युपदेशः

Maricha’s Counsel on Kingship and Ruin to Ravana

Devanagari script

कस्त्वया सुखिना राजन्नाभिनन्दति पापकृत्।केनेदमुपदिष्टं ते मृत्युद्वारमुपायतः।।।।

Transliteration

kas tvayā sukhinā rājann ābhinandati pāpakṛt | kenedaṃ upadiṣṭaṃ te mṛtyudvāram upāyataḥ ||

Translation

ഹേ രാജാവേ, നീ സുഖിയായി ഇരിക്കുന്നതു കണ്ടു ഏതു പാപി സന്തോഷിക്കും? ആരാണ് ഈ കാര്യത്തിൽ നിന്നെ കപടമായി ഉപദേശിച്ചത്—മരണദ്വാരം തന്നെയെന്നപോലെ കാണിച്ചുകൊണ്ട്?

Word by Word

• कः: who
• कः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karaṇa/Association (करण/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सुखिना: happy
• सुखिना: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुखिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of त्वया)

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन विभक्ति, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध

• अभिनन्दति: approves, praises
• अभिनन्दति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + नन्द् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पापकृत्: a sinner
• पापकृत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप + कृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (पापं करोति); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• केन: by whom
• केन: Karaṇa/Agent (करण/कर्ता-हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; अत्र द्वितीया (object of उपदिष्टम् understood)

• उपदिष्टम्: advised
• उपदिष्टम्: Kriyā (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप + दिश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; "advised" (agreeing with इदम्)

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मृत्युद्वारम्: gate of death
• मृत्युद्वारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु + द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (मृत्योः द्वारम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उपायतः: by a stratagem
• उपायतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययभावे तसिल्-प्रत्यय (ablatival adverb): "by means/strategically"

Context

Which sinner is not able to see you happy? O king! by whom is this gate of deathshown to you cunningly?

Characters & Entities

• Mārīca
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma in governance requires discernment about counsel: advice that leads to self-destruction is adharma. The verse warns against being manipulated into ruin by hidden enemies.

What is the narrative situation?

Mārīca challenges the origin of Rāvaṇa’s plan, implying that only an enemy would push him toward a course that ends in death.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Viveka (discriminating judgment): a ruler must test advice and motives, not merely follow impulses.