Shloka 70

युद्धलक्षण-निमित्तदर्शनं तथा लङ्काद्वारव्यूहः

War Omens and the Encirclement of Lanka’s Gates

Devanagari script

नहिराज्यमधर्मेणभोक्तुंक्षणमपित्वया ।शक्यंमूर्खसहायेनपापेनाविदितात्मना ।।6.41.70।।

Transliteration

na hi rājyam adharmeṇa bhoktuṃ kṣaṇam api tvayā |

śakyaṃ mūrkhasahāyena pāpenāviditātmanā ||6.41.70||

Translation

അധർമ്മത്തിലൂടെ രാജ്യം അനുഭവിക്കുക നിനക്കു ക്ഷണമാത്രം പോലും സാധ്യമല്ല; മൂഢരുടെ സഹായത്തോടെ പാപിയും ആത്മതത്ത്വം അറിയാത്തവനുമായ നീ രാജസുഖം ഭോഗിക്കയില്ല.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधान/हेतौ (indeed/for)

• rājyam: kingdom
• rājyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• adharmeṇa: by unrighteousness
• adharmeṇa: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• bhoktum: to enjoy
• bhoktum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/infinitival purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (भुज् धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-रूप (Infinitive), अर्थः—कर्तुं/भोक्तुम्

• kṣaṇam: a moment
• kṣaṇam: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; कालपरिमाण (measure of time)

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अपि = even/also

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Kartr̥ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• śakyam: possible
• śakyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakya (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; शक् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; शक्य = possible

• mūrkha-sahāyena: with a foolish helper
• mūrkha-sahāyena: Sahakārī-kāraka (सहकारी/सहाय-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrkha (प्रातिपदिक) + sahāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: मूर्खस्य सहायः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• pāpena: (being) sinful
• pāpena: Kartr̥ (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषण-रूपेण (as an epithet)

• aviditātmanā: by you, who do not know yourself
• aviditātmanā: Kartr̥ (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-vidita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; vid (विद्) धातु) + ātman (आत्मन् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास: अविदितः आत्मा यस्य सः; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषण (epithet of tvayā)

Context

"One who is not aware of himself, an unrighteous sinner ruling with foolish mates cannot enjoy the kingdom even for a moment."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Rāvaṇa
• kingdom (rājya)

FAQs

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

Political power without dharma is unstable: unrighteous rule, compounded by ignorance and foolish counsel, cannot yield lasting enjoyment or legitimacy.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma rebukes Rāvaṇa’s governance, attributing his impending ruin to adharma, lack of self-mastery, and the influence of misguided companions.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Wisdom in statecraft (rājadharma): the verse highlights discernment—right conduct and right counsel—as prerequisites for sustainable rule.