Shloka 9
मारीचाश्रमगमनम्
Ravana’s Journey to Maricha’s Hermitage
स श्वेतवालव्यजनः श्वेतच्छत्रो दशाननः।स्निग्धवैदूर्यसंकाश स्तप्तकाञ्चनकुण्डलः।।3.35.8।।विंशद्भुजो दशग्रीवो दर्शनीयपरिच्छदः।त्रिदशारिर्मुनीन्द्रघ्नो दशशीर्ष इवाद्रिराट्।।3.35.9।।कामगं रथमास्थाय शुशुभे राक्षसेश्वरः।विद्युन्मण्डलवान्मेघस्सबलाक इवाम्बरे।।3.35.10।।
sa śvetavālavyajanaḥ śvetacchatro daśānanaḥ |
snigdhavaidūryasaṅkāśaḥ staptakāñcanakuṇḍalaḥ ||
viṃśadbhujō daśagrīvo darśanīyaparicchadaḥ |
tridaśārir munīndraghno daśaśīrṣa ivādrirāṭ ||
kāmagaṃ ratham āsthāya śuśubhe rākṣaseśvaraḥ |
vidyunmaṇḍalavān meghaḥ sabalāka ivāmbare ||
Dengan kipas ekor yak putih dan payung putih, Rāvaṇa yang bermuka sepuluh—berkilau seperti vaidūrya yang digilap, bertatah subang emas membara—berleher sepuluh dan berlengan dua puluh, berhias indah; musuh para dewa dan pembunuh para resi agung, laksana raja gunung berpuncak sepuluh. Setelah menaiki rata yang bergerak menurut kehendak, raja rākṣasa itu tampak bersinar, bagaikan awan di angkasa yang dilingkari kilat dan diiringi burung bangau.
Maricha extended his hospitality with appropriate food and water and said with meaningful words:
FAQs
The Ramayana warns that brilliance and majesty do not equal dharma. Rāvaṇa’s dazzling appearance is juxtaposed with epithets like “slayer of sages,” implying moral decline beneath grandeur.
A detailed poetic description frames Rāvaṇa’s departure, heightening tension before his encounter with Mārīca and the unfolding plot against Rāma.
No virtue is emphasized; the verse stresses overwhelming power and intimidating splendor, reinforcing the theme that unchecked power without satya and dharma becomes destructive.