Shloka 1

लाङ्गूलदाह-पर्यटनम्

The Burning Tail and the Parade through Laṅkā

Devanagari script

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा दशग्रीवो महात्मनः।देशकालहितं वाक्यं भ्रातुरुत्तरमब्रवीत्।।5.53.1।।

Transliteration

tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā daśagrīvo mahātmanaḥ |

deśakālahitaṃ vākyaṃ bhrātur uttaram abravīt || 5.53.1 ||

Translation

മഹാത്മാവായ സഹോദരന്റെ ദേശകാലോചിതവും ഹിതകരവുമായ വാക്കുകൾ കേട്ട ദശഗ്രീവൻ (രാവണൻ) മറുപടിയായി ഉത്തരം പറഞ്ഞു.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म/Object modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying वचनम्)

• वचनम्: speech, words
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि

• दशग्रीवः: Ten-necked (Ravana)
• दशग्रीवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दश+ग्रीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (दश ग्रीवाः यस्य)

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled (one)
• महात्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (महान् आत्मा यस्य)

• देशकालहितम्: beneficial as per place and time
• देशकालहितम्: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देश+काल+हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (देशे काले च हितम्)

• वाक्यम्: statement
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भ्रातुः: of (his) brother
• भ्रातुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उत्तरम्: reply
• उत्तरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said, spoke
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

Context

The ten-headed Ravana heard his brother, the great-soul Vibhishana's timely advice which was in keeping with the laws of the land and replied.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa (Daśagrīva)
• Vibhīṣaṇa

FAQs

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

Good governance involves hearing timely counsel (deśa-kāla-hita) and responding through deliberation rather than impulsive command.

What is the narrative situation?

A new chapter begins as Rāvaṇa responds after listening to Vibhīṣaṇa’s advice regarding proper conduct and policy.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Attentiveness to counsel and situational judgment—recognizing advice suited to time and place as a basis for decision.