Shloka 33

महोदर-वाक्यं कुम्भकर्ण-प्रतिषेधः

Mahodara’s Counsel and the Critique of Kumbhakarna’s Solo Assault

Devanagari script

ञ्जनीयम्हिभर्तारंविनष्टमवगम्यसा ।नैराश्यात् स्त्रीलघुत्वाच्चत्वद्वशंप्रतिपत्स्यते ।।।।

Transliteration

rañjanīyaṃ hi bhartāraṃ vinaṣṭam avagamya sā | nairāśyāt strīlaghutvāc ca tvadvaśaṃ pratipatsyate ||

Translation

മനോഹരനായ തന്റെ ഭർത്താവ് നശിച്ചുവെന്ന് അറിഞ്ഞാൽ, നിരാശയും സ്ത്രീസ്വഭാവത്തിന് ചുമത്തപ്പെടുന്ന ചാഞ്ചല്യവും മൂലം അവൾ നിന്റെ അധീനതയിൽ പതിക്കും.

Word by Word

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• purā: formerly
• purā: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (formerly)

• sukha-samvṛddhā: brought up in comfort
• sukha-samvṛddhā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक) + sam + vṛdh (धातु) + ta (कृत्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (सुखेन संवृद्धा), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifies sā

• sukha-arhā: deserving happiness
• sukha-arhā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक) + arh (धातु/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (सुखम् अर्हति), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifies sā

• duḥkha-karśitā: tormented by sorrow
• duḥkha-karśitā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛś (धातु) + ita (कृत्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (दुःखेन कर्शिता), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifies sā

• tvayi: in you/with you
• tvayi: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• adhīnam: dependent (on)
• adhīnam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adhi + īna (प्रातिपदिक) / adhīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; here agrees with sukham (n. acc.)

• sukham: happiness
• sukham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• jñātvā: having known
• jñātvā: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jñā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्ययभाव

• sarvathā: in every way
• sarvathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार-अव्यय (in every way)

• gamiṣyati: will go/submit
• gamiṣyati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Context

"Her charming husband ceased to live and thinking of no alternate, being a fickle woman, will accept your dependence."

Characters & Entities

• Sita
• Rama
• Ravana

FAQs

Who is the speaker of this verse and what is the context?

The speaker is Mahodara, a minister of Ravana. He is advising Ravana not to fight immediately but to use deception to make Sita believe Rama is dead, hoping she will then submit.

What logic does the speaker use regarding human nature?

Mahodara uses a cynical argument based on 'strīlaghutva' (fickleness of women) and 'nairāśya' (despair), suggesting that without hope, loyalty falters—a view contrary to Sita's actual devotion (Pativrata Dharma).