Shloka 7

रावण-सारथि-संवादः

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

Devanagari script

यस्त्वंरथमिदंमोहान्नचेद्वहसिदुर्मते ।सत्योऽप्रतितर्कोमेपरेणत्वमुपस्कृतः ।।।।

Transliteration

yas tvaṃ ratham idaṃ mohān na cet vahasi durmate | satyo 'pratitarko me pareṇa tvam upaskṛtaḥ ||

Translation

Jika kerana kebingungan engkau tidak mahu memandu kereta ini, wahai yang berfikiran jahat, maka sungguh tanpa ragu bagiku: engkau telah dipengaruhi dan dibeli oleh musuh.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Niṣedha-nipāta (negation)

• hitam: benefit/good
• hitam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• vidyate: is found/exists
• vidyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vid (धातु; विद्-लभे/सत्तायाम्)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; Ātmanepada

• karma: act/deed
• karma: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; apposition to hitam

• suhṛdaḥ: of a friend
• suhṛdaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suhṛd (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (Gen/6th), Ekavacana

• hitakāṅkṣiṇaḥ: who desires (another's) good
• hitakāṅkṣiṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hita-kāṅkṣin (प्रातिपदिक; hita + kāṅkṣin)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of suhṛdaḥ

• ripūṇām: of enemies
• ripūṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ripu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (Gen/6th), Bahuvacana

• sadṛśam: similar/befitting
• sadṛśam: Pradhāna (प्रधान/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sadṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate adjective of etat

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Virodha/avadhāraṇa-nipāta

• etat: this
• etat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• yat: which
• yat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakliṅga, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; relative pronoun referring to etat

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Napuṃsakliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• anuṣṭhitam: performed
• anuṣṭhitam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-√sthā (धातु)
• Form: PPP (क्त), Napuṃsakliṅga, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; ‘carried out/performed’

Context

"O Evil minded one! If out of delusion you are not willing to drive, truly you are influenced by the enemy."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sārathi (charioteer)
• enemy (implicitly Rāma)

FAQs

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

The verse centers on fidelity to duty: an agent entrusted with a role must not be swayed by fear, delusion, or inducement; loyalty is treated as a pillar of righteous conduct in service.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa interprets hesitation or refusal to drive as evidence that the charioteer has been influenced by the opposing side.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Loyalty (bhakti/niṣṭhā in service) and steadfast execution of assigned responsibility.