Shloka 8

त्रिशिरा-प्रबोधनम् तथा नरान्तक-वधः

Trisira’s Counsel and the Slaying of Naranthaka

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वात्रिशिरसोवाक्यंरावणोराक्षसाधिपः ।पुनर्जातमिवात्मानंमन्यतेकालचोदितः ।।।।

Transliteration

śrutvā triśiraso vākyaṃ rāvaṇo rākṣasādhipaḥ |

punarjātam ivātmānaṃ manyate kālacoditaḥ ||6.69.8||

Translation

Mendengar kata-kata Triśiras, Rāvaṇa—penguasa para Rākṣasa—seakan didorong takdir, merasakan dirinya bagaikan lahir semula.

Word by Word

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śru (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: कृदन्त-अव्यय (Gerund/क्त्वान्त); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having heard)

• triśirasaḥ: of Triśiras
• triśirasaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: triśiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• vākyam: words, speech
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• rāvaṇaḥ: Rāvaṇa
• rāvaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• rākṣasādhipaḥ: lord of the Rākṣasas
• rākṣasādhipaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक) + adhipa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: राक्षसानाम् अधिपः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; apposition to rāvaṇaḥ

• punar: again
• punar: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• jātam: born
• jātam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jan (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (Past passive participle, क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; आत्मानम् इति कर्मणि विशेषण

• iva: as if
• iva: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमावाचक-निपात

• ātmānam: himself
• ātmānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• manyate: thinks, considers
• manyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: man (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद; प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• kālacoditaḥ: impelled by fate/time
• kālacoditaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक) + codita (चोदित, प्रातिपदिक/क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (तृतीया: कालेन चोदितः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

Context

Ravana, the king of Rakshasas, hearing Trisira's words thought that impelled by destiny that he was reborn.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Triśiras
• Rākṣasas
• Kāla (Time/Destiny)

FAQs

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

The verse warns that renewed confidence can arise even in an adharma-aligned ruler; dharma requires discernment so that ‘encouragement’ does not become fuel for wrongdoing.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa is heartened by Triśiras’ counsel and feels reinvigorated, as if reborn, under the pressure of destiny.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Not virtue but psychological momentum—how words and fate can re-energize a leader, for good or ill depending on alignment with dharma.