Shloka 17

तारोपदेशः — Tara’s Counsel to Lakshmana

Restraint, Time, and Mobilization

Devanagari script

ते न शक्या रणे हन्तुमसहायेन लक्ष्मण।रावणः क्रूरकर्मा च सुग्रीवेण विशेषतः।।।।

Transliteration

te na śakyā raṇe hantum asahāyena lakṣmaṇa | rāvaṇaḥ krūra-karmā ca sugrīveṇa viśeṣataḥ ||

Translation

ହେ ଲକ୍ଷ୍ମଣ, ସହାୟ ବିନା ରଣରେ ସେମାନଙ୍କୁ ବଧ କରିବା ସମ୍ଭବ ନୁହେଁ; ବିଶେଷକରି ସୁଗ୍ରୀବ ଦ୍ୱାରା ତ ନୁହେଁ, କ୍ରୂରକର୍ମା ରାବଣଙ୍କ ସମ୍ମୁଖେ ତ ଅତିବିଶେଷ ଭାବେ ନୁହେଁ।

Word by Word

• te: those (demons)
• te: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; negation

• śakyāḥ: possible (to be killed)
• śakyāḥ: Pradhāna-viśeṣaṇa (प्रधानविशेषण/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakya (प्रातिपदिक; from √śak)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; predicate adjective with implied 'santi'

• raṇe: in battle
• raṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• hantum: to kill
• hantum: Karma (कर्म/Verbal complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: han (हन् धातु)
• Form: Tumun-infinitive (तुमुन्), complement to śakyāḥ

• asahāyena: without assistance
• asahāyena: Karaṇa (करण/Means)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-sahāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; instrumental of manner/means; 'without help'

• lakṣmaṇa: O Lakṣmaṇa
• lakṣmaṇa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana (Vocative/सम्बोधन), Ekavacana

• rāvaṇaḥ: Rāvaṇa
• rāvaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• krūra-karmā: of cruel deeds
• krūra-karmā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: krūra (प्रातिपदिक) + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; karmadhāraya (krūraṃ karma yasya) predicate/epithet of rāvaṇaḥ

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• sugrīveṇa: by Sugrīva
• sugrīveṇa: Karaṇa (करण/Agent/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sugrīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana

• viśeṣataḥ: especially
• viśeṣataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: viśeṣatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

Context

'O Lakshmana! moreover it is not possible for Sugriva alone to kill the wicked Ravana without the help of the monkeys.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Sugrīva
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma supports coordinated effort for a righteous goal: success against entrenched evil often requires unity rather than isolated heroism.

What is the narrative situation?

Tārā urges Lakṣmaṇa to recognize that Sugrīva cannot fight such enemies alone; the vanara forces must assemble.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility and cooperation—acknowledging limits and relying on a righteous coalition.