Shloka 14

धूम्राक्षप्रेषणम्

The Dispatch of Dhūmrākṣa

Devanagari script

तच्छ्रुत्वावचनंतेषांराक्षसेन्द्रोमहाबलः ।चिन्तारोषसमाक्रान्तोविषण्णवदनोऽभवत् ।।6.51.14।।

Transliteration

tac chrutvā vacanaṃ teṣāṃ rākṣasendro mahābalaḥ |

cintā-roṣa-samākrānto viṣaṇṇa-vadano 'bhavat ||6.51.14||

Translation

അവരുടെ വാക്കുകൾ കേട്ടപ്പോൾ മഹാബലനായ രാക്ഷസേന്ദ്രൻ രാവണൻ ചിന്തയും ക്രോധവും കൊണ്ട് ആകുലനായി; അവന്റെ മുഖം വിഷണ്ണമായി.

Word by Word

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘that’ referring to the speech

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriya (क्रिया/Preceding action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त्वान्त/absolutive); ‘having heard’

• vacanam: words, statement
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• rākṣasa-indraḥ: the lord of the Rakshasas
• rākṣasa-indraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa + indra (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘lord of rākṣasas’)

• mahā-balaḥ: mighty
• mahā-balaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + bala (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (‘great’ + ‘strength’) qualifying rākṣasendraḥ

• cintā-roṣa-samākrāntaḥ: overcome by worry and anger
• cintā-roṣa-samākrāntaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cintā + roṣa + samākrānta (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुष (‘overcome by worry and anger’)

• viṣaṇṇa-vadanaḥ: with a dejected face
• viṣaṇṇa-vadanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viṣaṇṇa + vadana (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (‘dejected’ + ‘face’)

• abhavat: became
• abhavat: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Context

"My enemies who are bound by the formidable and unfailing, sharp, poisonous and bright arrows like the sun of Indrajith blessed with boons, are liberated from the bondage! I doubt if my army is in danger!"

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Rākṣasas (council/attendants)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how adharma breeds inner turmoil: when one stands against righteousness, the mind is easily seized by anger and fear rather than clarity and restraint.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa hears a report (from his rākṣasas) and reacts with worry and rage, showing distress at the turn of events.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast (through negation), the value of self-mastery is emphasized: uncontrolled anger and anxiety are portrayed as destabilizing.