Shloka 4

माल्यवानुपदेशः

Malyavan’s Counsel, Portents in Laṅkā, and the Proposal of Alliance

Devanagari script

तरणंसागरस्यापिविक्रमंबलसञ्जियम् ।।।।यदुक्तवन्तोरामस्यभवन्तस्तन्मयाश्रुतम् ।

Transliteration

taraṇaṃ sāgarasyāpi vikramaṃ balasañjiyam |

yad uktavanto rāmasya bhavantas tan mayā śrutam ||

Translation

Apa yang kamu semua katakan—tentang lautan yang diseberangi, serta tentang keberanian dan kekuatan yang dihimpun demi tugas Rāma—semuanya telah aku dengar.

Word by Word

• taraṇam: crossing
• taraṇam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: taraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• sāgarasya: of the ocean
• sāgarasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāgara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-निपात (also/even)

• vikramam: valor
• vikramam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vikrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• balasañjiyam: won/achieved by strength
• balasañjiyam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bala + sañji (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (उपपद: ‘बलेन सञ्जितम्’/‘बलसञ्जय’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (vikramam)

• yat: which/that which
• yat: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative)

• uktavantaḥ: you have said
• uktavantaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: क्तवत्-प्रत्ययान्त (past active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘उक्तवन्तः’ = having said/told

• rāmasya: of Rama
• rāmasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• bhavantaḥ: you (sirs)
• bhavantaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavant (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: सर्वनाम-प्राय (honorific pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Karta (कर्ता/agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया, एकवचन

• śrutam: was heard
• śrutam: Kriya (क्रिया/predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र कर्मणि-प्रयोगे ‘श्रुतम्’ = heard

Context

Rama is Lord Vishnu in human form endowed with fortitude and prowess. One who has constructed an amazing bridge on the ocean is not just a human being. O Ravana! Align with the ruler of men, Sri Rama. After careful thinking and determining correctly, do what is good.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• ocean (sāgara)

FAQs

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

Responsible counsel begins with attentive listening and accurate acknowledgment of facts; dharma in governance requires decisions grounded in what is truly known, not in pride or denial.

What is the narrative situation?

Mālyavān begins advising Rāvaṇa, indicating he has heard reports about extraordinary feats done for Rāma’s mission, setting the stage for urging a prudent response.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and clarity: the counsellor’s habit of verifying and recognizing the opponent’s capability before recommending policy.