Shloka 5

रावणस्यात्मप्रशंसा लङ्कावर्णनं च

Ravana’s Self-Praise and the Description of Lanka

Devanagari script

यद्भयार्तः परित्यज्य स्वमधिष्ठानमृद्धिमत्।कैलासं पर्वतश्रेष्ठमध्यास्ते नरवाहनः।।।।

Transliteration

yad-bhayārtaḥ parityajya svam adhiṣṭhānam ṛddhimat |

kailāsaṃ parvata-śreṣṭham adhyāste naravāhanaḥ ||

Translation

ആരുടെയോ ഭയത്തിൽ വിറച്ച്, സമൃദ്ധമായ തന്റെ അധിഷ്ഠാനം ഉപേക്ഷിച്ച്, ‘നരവാഹനൻ’ കുബേരൻ ഇപ്പോൾ പർവ്വതശ്രേഷ്ഠമായ കൈലാസത്തിൽ വസിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• yat-bhaya-ārtaḥ: distressed by fear of whom
• yat-bhaya-ārtaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yad + bhaya + ārta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa; Masculine, Nominative, Singular; 'distressed by fear of whom' qualifying 'naravāhanaḥ'

• parityajya: having abandoned
• parityajya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari + tyaj (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (ल्यप्), indeclinable verbal

• svam: his own
• svam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; qualifies 'adhiṣṭhānam'

• adhiṣṭhānam: abode, seat
• adhiṣṭhānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhiṣṭhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ṛddhimat: prosperous, splendid
• ṛddhimat: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṛddhi-mat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; possessive adjective (मतुप्) qualifying 'adhiṣṭhānam'

• kailāsam: Kailāsa
• kailāsam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kailāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular

• parvata-śrēṣṭham: the best of mountains
• parvata-śrēṣṭham: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parvata + śrēṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa/Karmadhāraya sense 'best of mountains'; Masculine, Accusative, Singular; qualifies 'kailāsam'

• adhyāstē: dwells upon, resides
• adhyāstē: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: adhi + ās (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, present), Ātmanepada, Third person, Singular

• naravāhanaḥ: Naravāhana (Kubera)
• naravāhanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara + vāhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi 'one whose vehicle is a man'; Masculine, Nominative, Singular; epithet of Kubera

Context

O Ravana ,you are cruel and evilminded. You have no control over your senses. (And yet) you are the ruler of your breed. Surely they are going to be destroyed.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Kubera (Naravāhana)
• Kailāsa

FAQs

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

Dharma contrasts rightful authority with coercion; forcing others to abandon their place through fear is not righteous kingship.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa continues his intimidation strategy, presenting himself as so fearsome that even Kubera relocates.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s courage is foregrounded by the context—she remains firm despite such claims.