Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 13

राज्ञः शङ्का

प्रत्याख्यानम् (Daśaratha’s Objections to Sending Rāma) — Bala Kanda, Sarga 20

Devanagari script

कथं च प्रतिकर्तव्यं तेषां रामेण रक्षसाम्।।।।मामकैर्वा बलैर्ब्रह्मन्मया वा कूटयोधिनाम्।3

Transliteration

kathaṃ ca pratikartavyaṃ teṣāṃ rāmeṇa rakṣasām |

māmakair vā balair brahman mayā vā kūṭa-yodhinām ||1.20.13||

Translation

ഹേ ബ്രാഹ്മണാ, ആ കൂറ്റയോധികളായ രാക്ഷസന്മാർക്കെതിരെ പ്രതികാരം എങ്ങനെ നടത്തണം—രാമനാൽ ആണോ, എന്റെ സൈന്യബലത്താൽ ആണോ, അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ഞാൻ തന്നെയോ?

Word by Word

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Prashna (प्रश्न/Interrogative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• प्रतिकर्तव्यम्: should be retaliated / what is to be done in return
• प्रतिकर्तव्यम्: Vidheyabhāva (विधेय/Obligation predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati√kṛ (धातु) + tavya (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive/future passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Nom/Acc sg); विधेय-भाव (obligation: “should be done/retaliated”)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (plural)

• रामेण: by/with Rama
• रामेण: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/तृतीया), एकवचन

• रक्षसाम्: of the rākṣasas
• रक्षसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (collective usage), षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• मामकैः: with my (own)
• मामकैः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: māmaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/तृतीया), बहुवचन; ‘बलैः’ इति विशेष्य-सम्बन्ध (agreeing with balaiḥ)

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प/Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• बलैः: with forces
• बलैः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahman (sage)
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन विभक्ति (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• मया: by me
• मया: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अस्मद्-सर्वनाम; तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/तृतीया), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प/Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• कूटयोधिनाम्: of the treacherous warriors
• कूटयोधिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kūṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + yodhin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative): कूटेन योधिनः = ‘deceitful fighters’

Context

O brahman, how to rebuff those deceitful warriors either through Rama or through my army or through me?

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Viśvāmitra
• Rāma
• rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Kṣātra-dharma must be exercised with discernment: Daśaratha asks what proportionate and proper response is justified against deceitful aggressors.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha seeks a practical plan—whether Rāma alone should act, or the king/army should intervene—to counter the rākṣasas.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

A ruler’s sense of accountability: Daśaratha includes himself and his army rather than shifting all burden onto Rāma.