Shloka 16

रावणस्य मन्त्रविचारः

Ravana’s Council on Strategy

Devanagari script

वानराणांहिधीराणांसहस्रैःपरिवारितः ।।6.6.16।।रामोऽभ्येतिपुरीलङ्कामस्माकमुपरोधकः ।

Transliteration

vānarāṇāṃ hi dhīrāṇāṃ sahasraiḥ parivāritaḥ |

rāmo 'bhyeti purīṃ laṅkām asmākam uparodhakaḥ ||6.6.16||

Translation

ആയിരക്കണക്കിന് ധീര വാനരന്മാർ ചുറ്റിപ്പറ്റിയ രാമൻ, ഞങ്ങളെ ഉപരോധിക്കുവാൻ ലങ്കാപുരിയിലേക്കു മുന്നേറിവരുന്നു.

Word by Word

• vānarāṇām: of the vanaras
• vānarāṇām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Ṣaṣṭhī (Gen. 6), Bahuvacana (pl.)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (emphasis/indeed)

• dhīrāṇām: of the steadfast/valiant
• dhīrāṇām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध) (as qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Ṣaṣṭhī (Gen. 6), Bahuvacana (pl.); viśeṣaṇa of "vānarāṇām"

• sahasraiḥ: by thousands
• sahasraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakalिङ्ग (n.), Tṛtīyā (Instr. 3), Bahuvacana (pl.)

• parivāritaḥ: surrounded
• parivāritaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया) (predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-√vṛ (वृ धातु)
• Form: Kta-participle (क्त), Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana (sg.); passive sense: "surrounded/escorted"

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana (sg.)

• abhyeti: approaches/comes near
• abhyeti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√i (इ धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana (sg.), Parasmaipada

• purīm: the city
• purīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana (sg.)

• laṅkām: Lanka
• laṅkām: Karma (कर्म) (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: laṅkā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana (sg.); apposition to "purīm"

• asmākam: of us/our
• asmākam: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī (Gen. 6), Bahuvacana (pl.)

• uparodhakaḥ: besieger/blockader
• uparodhakaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण) (predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uparodhaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana (sg.); predicate noun of "rāmaḥ"

Context

"In the world, men are of three kinds - good, mediocre and lowly. It is difficult to know their differences. I will tell you about the flaws in their characteristics."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Laṅkā
• Vānara

FAQs

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

Truthful appraisal of reality is part of Dharma: leadership must acknowledge an approaching threat plainly and prepare responsibly.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa reports the imminent arrival of Rāma with the Vānara host to besiege Laṅkā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s resolve and organized leadership—advancing with allies toward a just objective.