Shloka 18

राक्षसपरिषद्वाक्यम्

Counsel of the Rakshasa Court to Ravana

Devanagari script

क्षत्रियैर्बहुभिर्वीरैःशक्रतुल्यपराक्रमैः ।आसीद्वसुमतीपूर्णामहद्भिरिवपादपैः ।।।।

Transliteration

kṣatriyair bahubhir vīraiḥ śakra-tulya-parākramaiḥ | āsīd vasumatī pūrṇā mahadbhir iva pādapaiḥ ||

Translation

ശക്രസമാനമായ പരാക്രമമുള്ള അനേകം ക്ഷത്രിയവീരന്മാരാൽ വസുമതി നിറഞ്ഞിരുന്നു; മഹാവൃക്ഷങ്ങളാൽ പൂർണ്ണമായതുപോലെ.

Word by Word

• क्षत्रियैः: by/with kṣatriyas (warriors)
• क्षत्रियैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• बहुभिः: many
• बहुभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण of क्षत्रियैः/वीरैः

• वीरैः: heroes
• वीरैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• शक्रतुल्यपराक्रमैः: with valor equal to Indra
• शक्रतुल्यपराक्रमैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्रतुल्यपराक्रम (प्रातिपदिक) = शक्र-तुल्य + पराक्रम
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण of क्षत्रियैः/वीरैः

• आसीत्: was
• आसीत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• वसुमती: the earth
• वसुमती: कर्तृ (Kartṛ/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसुमती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• पूर्णा: full
• पूर्णा: कर्तृ (Kartṛ/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण of वसुमती

• महद्भिः: with great (ones)
• महद्भिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण of पादपैः

• इव: like
• इव: उपमान (Upamāna/Simile marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• पादपैः: trees
• पादपैः: उपमान-करण (Instrument in simile)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पादप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

Context

"The earth was fully filled with Kshatriya heroes of great prowess, equal to Indra in war who stood like trees on earth."

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Śakra)
• Kṣatriyas
• Earth (Vasumatī)

FAQs

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

It evokes kṣatra-dharma (warrior duty) and the social ideal of heroic protectors—yet the epic evaluates such heroism by whether it serves righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

The speaker depicts a world crowded with mighty warriors as part of a broader boast about victories and power.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfast martial strength (parākrama) and imposing presence.