Shloka 3

रावणस्यात्मप्रशंसा लङ्कावर्णनं च

Ravana’s Self-Praise and the Description of Lanka

Devanagari script

यस्य देवास्सगन्धर्वाः पिशाचपतगोरगाः।विद्रवन्ति भयाद्भीता मृत्योरिव सदा प्रजाः।।।।

Transliteration

yasya devāḥ sa-gandharvāḥ piśāca-pataga-uragāḥ |

vidravanti bhayād bhītā mṛtyor iva sadā prajāḥ ||

Translation

ആരുടെയോ ഭയത്താൽ ദേവന്മാർ ഗന്ധർവന്മാരോടുകൂടെ, പിശാചുകൾ, പക്ഷികൾ, സർപ്പങ്ങൾ എന്നിവയും ഭീതരായി, മരണത്തിൽ നിന്ന് ജനങ്ങൾ ഓടിപ്പോകുന്നതുപോലെ എപ്പോഴും ഓടിപ്പോകുന്നു.

Word by Word

• yasya: whose
• yasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular

• dēvāḥ: gods
• dēvāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sa-gandharvāḥ: together with Gandharvas
• sa-gandharvāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa (अव्यय) + gandharva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva (अव्ययीभाव) 'together with gandharvas'; Masculine, Nominative, Plural; functions as 'including gandharvas'

• piśāca-pataga-uragāḥ: piśācas, birds, and serpents
• piśāca-pataga-uragāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: piśāca + pataga + uraga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva-samāsa, Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• vidravanti: run away
• vidravanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + drav (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, present), Parasmaipada, Third person, Plural

• bhayāt: from fear
• bhayāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (पञ्चमी/5), Singular

• bhītāḥ: frightened
• bhītāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhī (धातु) → bhīta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Plural; agrees with 'dēvāḥ ...'

• mṛtyōḥ: from death
• mṛtyōḥ: Upamāna/Hetu (उपमान/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛtyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (पञ्चमी/5), Singular (form identical to gen.sg in some traditions; here with 'iva' = 'as from death')

• iva: as if, like
• iva: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; comparative particle

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb of time (काल)

• prajāḥ: people, subjects
• prajāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

Context

Thus addressed, Sita was enraged and her eyes turned red. She replied in harsh words to the chief of the demons in that solitary place:.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Gandharvas
• Devas
• Piśācas

FAQs

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

The verse illustrates how rule by fear and pride in terror is a mark of adharma; Dharma seeks protection of beings, not their intimidation.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa is boasting before Sītā, attempting to overwhelm her with his reputation and power.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast (implicitly), Sītā’s steadfastness is highlighted—she is not swayed by threats rooted in fear.