Shloka 10

महापार्श्वस्य परामर्शः

Mahāpārśva’s Counsel and Rāvaṇa’s Confession of Brahmā’s Curse

Devanagari script

महापार्श्वनिबोधत्वंरहस्यंकिञ्चिदात्मन: ।चिरवृत्तंतदाख्यास्येयदवाप्तंपुरामया ।।।।

Transliteration

mahāpārśva nibodha tvaṃ rahasyaṃ kiñcid ātmanaḥ |

ciravṛttaṃ tad ākhyāsye yad avāptaṃ purā mayā ||

Translation

മഹാപാർശ്വാ, കേൾക്കുക; എന്റെ ഒരു രഹസ്യം ഞാൻ പറയുന്നു—ദീർഘകാലം മുമ്പ് എനിക്ക് സംഭവിച്ച, ഒരിക്കൽ എനിക്ക് ലഭിച്ച ആ സംഭവത്തെ ഞാൻ വിവരിക്കും.

Word by Word

• महापार्श्व: O Mahaparsva
• महापार्श्व: सम्बोधन (Address/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महापार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• निबोध: understand/listen
• निबोध: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-बुध् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन

• रहस्यम्: secret
• रहस्यम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रहस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• किञ्चित्: some/a certain
• किञ्चित्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: किञ्चित् (सर्वनाम/अव्ययप्राय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; रहस्यम् इति विशेषण (some)

• आत्मनः: of myself
• आत्मनः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• चिरवृत्तम्: happened long ago
• चिरवृत्तम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चिर + वृत्त (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त ‘वृत्त’ (happened), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत् इति विशेषण

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; रहस्यम् इत्यस्य पुनर्निर्देश

• आख्यास्ये: I will tell
• आख्यास्ये: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-ख्या (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• यत्: which
• यत्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative)

• अवाप्तम्: obtained/experienced
• अवाप्तम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव-आप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; यत् इति विशेषण

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: कालाधिकरण (Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (formerly)

• मया: by me
• मया: कर्ता (Agent/Doer)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, एकवचन (Instrumental singular)

Context

"O Mahaparsva! I have certain secret that happened in the past. It was a long time ago and I shall tell you. Listen to it."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Mahāpārśva

FAQs

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

Dharma contrasts secrecy with truth: revealing a hidden past can be the first step toward accountability, though the moral value depends on whether it leads to repentance and right action.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa begins narrating a confidential incident from his past to Mahāpārśva.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Not virtue but narrative tension: Rāvaṇa’s willingness to disclose a ‘secret’ signals inner conflict, yet does not by itself constitute repentance.