Shloka 17

रावणस्य सभाप्रवेशः

Ravana Enters the Royal Assembly and Summons Counsel

Devanagari script

तस्यांसवैडूर्यमयंप्रियकाजिनसम्वृतम् ।महत्सोपाश्रयंभेजेरावणःपरमासनम् ।।।।

Transliteration

tasyāṃ sa vaiḍūryamayaṃ priyakājinasamvṛtam | mahat sopāśrayaṃ bheje rāvaṇaḥ paramāsanam ||

Translation

അവിടെ രാവണൻ വൈഡൂര്യമണികളാൽ ജഡിതവും പ്രിയ അജിനംകൊണ്ട് മൂടിയതും തലയണ/ഗാദിയോടുകൂടിയതുമായ മഹത്തായ ഉത്തമ പരമാസനത്തിൽ ഇരിപ്പെടുത്തു.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: कालाधिकरण (Kāla-adhikaraṇa/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/अनन्तरवाचक अव्यय (then/thereupon)

• शशास: commanded
• शशास: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √शास् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ईश्वरवत्: like a sovereign
• ईश्वरवत्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ईश्वरवत् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाववत्)
• Form: उपमानवाचक अव्यय (adverbial: ‘like a lord’)

• दूतान्: messengers
• दूतान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• लघुपराक्रमान्: swift in prowess
• लघुपराक्रमान्: कर्म (Karma/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लघु-पराक्रम (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; दूतान्-विशेषण

• समानयत: bring (you all)
• समानयत: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-√नी (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/लोट्), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• मे: to me
• मे: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-एकवचन रूप (genitive/dative ‘of/to me’); here चतुर्थी-अर्थे (to me)

• क्षिप्रम्: quickly
• क्षिप्रम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्षिप्रम् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय (adverb)

• इह: here
• इह: देशाधिकरण (Deśa-adhikaraṇa/Place)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb)

• एतान्: these
• एतान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• राक्षसान्: Rakshasas
• राक्षसान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: वाक्यसमाप्ति/उद्धरण (Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• कृत्यम्: a task
• कृत्यम्: कर्ता (Kartā as predicate/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; here प्रथमा (predicate noun)

• अस्ति: is
• अस्ति: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• महत्: great
• महत्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कृत्यम्-विशेषण

• जाने: I know
• जाने: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• कर्तव्यम्: must be done
• कर्तव्यम्: विधेय (Predicate necessity)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: भाव्य/कर्तव्यतार्थक कृदन्त (gerundive/तव्यत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘to be done’

• इति: thus
• इति: वाक्यसमाप्ति/उद्धरण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक अव्यय (quotative)

• शत्रुभिः: by/against enemies
• शत्रुभिः: सम्बन्ध/हेतु (Instrumental of relation/agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

Context

Ravana sat on a huge excellent seat encrusted with Vydurya gems and covered with deer skin and which had a pillow.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Vaidūrya (gem)
• Sabhā (implied)

FAQs

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

Kingship imagery underscores responsibility: the “seat” symbolizes governance; dharma demands that rulership be exercised for protection and justice rather than self-indulgence.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa formally takes his place in the assembly, preparing to issue orders and consult.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Regal authority and command-presence—again, ethically meaningful only when guided by dharma.