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Shloka 4

रावण-प्रहस्त-हनूमद्वार्ता

Ravana and Prahasta Question Hanuman

स राजा रोषताम्राक्षः प्रहस्तं मन्त्रिसत्तमम्।कालयुक्तमुवाचेदं वचोऽविपुलमर्थवत्।।।।

sa rājā roṣatāmrākṣaḥ prahastaṃ mantrisattamam |

kālayuktam uvācedaṃ vaco ’vipulam arthavat ||

കോപത്താൽ ചുവന്ന കണ്ണുകളോടെ ആ രാജാവ് മന്ത്രിമാരിൽ ശ്രേഷ്ഠനായ പ്രഹസ്തനോട് കാലോചിതവും സംക്ഷിപ്തവും അർത്ഥഗൗരവമുള്ളതുമായ വാക്കുകൾ പറഞ്ഞു.

saḥhe, that
saḥ:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st case), Ekavacana; sarvanāma (pronoun)
rājāking
rājā:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootrājan (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana
roṣa-tāmra-akṣaḥwhose eyes were reddened by anger
roṣa-tāmra-akṣaḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa of Karta (कर्ता-विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootroṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + tāmra (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; बहुव्रीहि-समासः (one whose eyes are copper-red due to anger)
prahastamPrahasta
prahastam:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootprahasta (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana
mantri-sattamamthe best minister
mantri-sattamam:
Viśeṣaṇa of Karma (कर्म-विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootmantrin (प्रातिपदिक) + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (best among ministers)
kāla-yuktamtimely, appropriate
kāla-yuktam:
Viśeṣaṇa of vacaḥ (कर्म-विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootkāla (प्रातिपदिक) + yukta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
FormNapुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (yukta = joined/appropriate); तत्पुरुषः (appropriate to time)
uvācasaid, spoke
uvāca:
Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
TypeVerb
Rootvac (धातु)
FormLaṅ-lakāra (Imperfect/Past), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana; parasmaipada
idamthis
idam:
Viśeṣaṇa of vacaḥ (कर्म-विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootidam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; sarvanāma used adjectivally
vacaḥspeech, words
vacaḥ:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootvacas (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana
a-vipulamnot lengthy, brief
a-vipulam:
Viśeṣaṇa of vacaḥ (कर्म-विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootvipula (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; nañ-tatpuruṣa sense via prefix a- (not extensive)
arthavatmeaningful, substantial
arthavat:
Viśeṣaṇa of vacaḥ (कर्म-विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootarthavat (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; possessive adjective (-vat)

The infuriated demon king told the great minister Prahasta, these profound words in a brief manner appropriate to the hour.

R
Rāvaṇa
P
Prahasta

FAQs

Even in crisis, speech should be measured—timely, concise, and meaningful. The verse highlights disciplined governance through controlled, purposeful communication.

After Hanumān’s capture and the disturbance in Laṅkā, Rāvaṇa turns to his minister Prahasta to proceed appropriately.

Ministerial prudence and statecraft: the expectation that counsel and action be guided by situation-appropriate judgment (kālayukti).