Shloka 9

Devanagari script

धर्ममर्थं च कामं च सर्वान्वारक्षसांपते ।भजतेपुरुषःकालेत्रीणिद्वन्द्वानिवापुनः ।।6.63.9।।

Transliteration

dharmam arthaṃ ca kāmaṃ ca sarvān vā rākṣasāṃ-pate |

bhajate puruṣaḥ kāle trīṇi dvandvāni vā punaḥ ||6.63.9||

Translation

ഹേ രാക്ഷസാധിപാ! മനുഷ്യൻ കാലാനുസരിച്ച് ധർമ്മം, അർത്ഥം, കാമം—ഇവ മൂന്നും ഒരുമിച്ച്, അല്ലെങ്കിൽ കുറഞ്ഞത് സമതുലിതമായ ജോഡികളായി—ആചരിച്ച് നേടണം.

Word by Word

• धर्मम्: dharma / duty
• धर्मम्: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• अर्थम्: wealth / advantage
• अर्थम्: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (समुच्चयः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• कामम्: desire / pleasure
• कामम्: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (समुच्चयः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: विशेषण (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; qualifies (धर्म-अर्थ-काम) collectively

• वा: or
• वा: निपात (निपातः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प (disjunctive particle)

• रक्षसाम्: of the Rakshasas
• रक्षसाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी-सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन

• पते: O lord
• पते: सम्बोधन (सम्बोधनम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन

• भजते: pursues / resorts to
• भजते: क्रिया (क्रियापद)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• पुरुषः: a man
• पुरुषः: कर्ता (कर्तृ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• काले: in time / at the right time
• काले: अधिकरण (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; 'at the proper time'

• त्रीणि: three
• त्रीणि: विशेषण (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; qualifies द्वन्द्वानि

• द्वन्द्वानि: pairs / alternatives
• द्वन्द्वानि: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वन्द्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; object (elliptic) with भजते

• वा: or
• वा: निपात (निपातः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प (disjunctive particle)

• पुनः: again / alternatively
• पुनः: क्रियाविशेषण (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) = 'again/else'

Context

"Through the destruction of Rama, I will bring happiness to you who are worthy of happiness. I will collect Rama along with Lakshmana and all the Vanara leaders and devour all."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa (rākṣasām-pati)

FAQs

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

Dharma is the regulating principle for human aims: artha and kāma are legitimate only when pursued in right measure and at the right time, not through adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Counsel is given to Rāvaṇa about proper human goals and timing, implicitly criticizing his adharma-driven choices.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Balance and self-governance—ordering life aims under dharma.