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Shloka 27

रावण-सारथि-संवादः

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

ततोद्रुतंरावणवाक्यचोदितःप्रचोदयामासहयान्ससारथिः ।स राक्षसेन्द्रस्य ततो महारथःक्षणेनरामस्यरथाग्रतोऽभवत् ।।।।

tato drutaṃ rāvaṇavākyacoditaḥ pracodayāmāsa hayān sa sārathiḥ | sa rākṣasendrasya tato mahārathaḥ kṣaṇena rāmasya rathāgrato 'bhavat ||

Kemudian, didorong oleh titah Rāvaṇa, sais itu segera memacu kuda-kuda. Dalam sekelip mata, kereta perang agung raja Rākṣasa itu pun berada di hadapan kereta Rāma.

tataḥthen
tataḥ:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottataḥ (अव्यय)
FormAdverb (कालवाचक अव्यय)
drutamswiftly
drutam:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootdruta (प्रातिपदिक)
FormAdverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषण)
rāvaṇavākyacoditaḥurged by Ravana's words
rāvaṇavākyacoditaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier of sārathiḥ)
TypeAdjective
Rootrāvaṇa-vākya-codita (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular; tatpurusha chain: rāvaṇa + vākya (genitive relation) + codita (kta from √cud 'to impel') = 'impelled by Ravana's words'
pracodayāmāsadrove on/urged
pracodayāmāsa:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootpra-√cud (चुद्) (causative stem)
FormPeriphrastic perfect (लिट्-परस्मैपद, आम्-प्रयोग), 3rd person, Singular; 'set in motion/drove on'
hayānhorses
hayān:
Karma (कर्म) (object of pracodayāmāsa)
TypeNoun
Roothaya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
saḥhe
saḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Roottad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
sārathiḥcharioteer
sārathiḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootsārathi (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
saḥhe/that
saḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Roottad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular; referring to mahārathaḥ
rākṣasendrasyaof the Rakshasa-lord
rākṣasendrasya:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootrākṣasa-indra (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular; tatpurusha: rākṣasa + indra = 'lord of Rakshasas'
tataḥthen
tataḥ:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottataḥ (अव्यय)
FormAdverb (कालवाचक अव्यय)
mahārathaḥthe great chariot (warrior)
mahārathaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootmahā-ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular; karmadhāraya: mahā + ratha = 'great chariot/one with great chariot' (here: the great chariot/warrior)
kṣaṇenain a moment
kṣaṇena:
Kāla (काल)
TypeNoun
Rootkṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular; time-instrumental
rāmasyaof Rama
rāmasya:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootrāma (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
rathāgrataḥin front of the chariot
rathāgrataḥ:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) (location)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootratha-agrataḥ (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
FormIndeclinable (अव्यय) formed with -taḥ; avyayībhāva: ratha + agrataḥ = 'in front of the chariot'
abhavatbecame/appeared/stood
abhavat:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√bhū (भू)
FormImperfect (लङ्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

Then,instructed by Ravana,his charioteer started to drive Rakshasa lord's chariot.In a moment,the great chariot stood before Rama's chariot.।। itayāraṣēvālamīkīyēśarīmadarāmāyaṇēādikāvayēyudadhakāṇaḍēṣaḍutataraśatatamasasaragaḥ ।।This is the end of one hundred and sixth sarga of Yuddha Kanda of the first epic, the holy Ramayana composed by sage Valmiki.

R
Rāvaṇa
S
Sārathi (charioteer)
R
Rāma
C
chariot
H
horses

FAQs

It emphasizes disciplined execution of duty: once a decision is made, action should be prompt and aligned with one’s assigned role, especially in public and consequential settings like battle.

Rāvaṇa’s charioteer, following Rāvaṇa’s instruction, drives quickly so that Rāvaṇa’s chariot returns to the forefront, directly facing Rāma’s chariot.

Readiness and efficiency in service—swift, decisive action without hesitation.