Shloka 25

रावण-सारथि-संवादः

Ravana and the Charioteer: Counsel, Omens, and Battlefield Conduct

Devanagari script

रथंशीघ्रमिदंसूतराघवाभिमुखंनय ।नाहत्वासमरेशत्रून्निवर्तिष्यतिरावणः ।।।।

Transliteration

rathaṃ śīghram idaṃ sūta rāghavābhimukhaṃ naya |

nāhatvā samare śatrūn nivartiṣyati rāvaṇaḥ ||

Translation

Wahai sais, bawa kereta ini segera menghadap Rāghava. Rāvaṇa tidak akan berundur dari medan perang sebelum menewaskan musuh-musuhnya.

Word by Word

• ratham: chariot
• ratham: Karma (कर्म) (object of naya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• śīghram: quickly
• śīghram: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śīghra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative used as indeclinable (क्रियाविशेषण)

• idam: this
• idam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agreeing with ratham in sense 'this (chariot)'

• sūta: O charioteer
• sūta: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• rāghavābhimukham: towards Raghava
• rāghavābhimukham: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण) / Karma-viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rāghava-abhimukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); tatpurusha: rāghava + abhimukha = 'facing Raghava' (qualifying ratham)

• naya: lead/drive
• naya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √nī (नी)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• āhatvā: having slain/without slaying
• āhatvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√han (हन्)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (क्त्वा) = 'having slain/defeated'

• samare: in battle
• samare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• śatrūn: enemies
• śatrūn: Karma (कर्म) (object of āhatvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śatru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• nivartiṣyati: will return/withdraw
• nivartiṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√vṛt (वृत्)
• Form: Future (लृट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• rāvaṇaḥ: Ravana
• rāvaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

"Quickly drive the chariot towards Raghava. As a policy, Ravana would never turn back on the battlefield without putting an end to the enemy."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• sūta (charioteer)
• Rāghava (Rāma)

FAQs

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

The verse shows determination, but dharma critiques determination used for adharma; steadfastness becomes virtue only when aligned with righteous cause and truth (satya).

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa, re-energized, commands his charioteer to charge toward Rāma and declares he will not retreat without defeating enemies.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Valor and resolve—present as personal courage, yet ethically compromised by the unjust war Rāvaṇa wages.