Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 106, Shloka 6

रावण-सारथि-संवादः

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

Devanagari script

प्रख्यातवीर्यस्यरञ्जनीयस्यविक्रमैः ।पश्यतोयुद्धलुब्धोऽहंकृतंकापुरुषस्त्वया ।।।।

Transliteration

prakhyātavīryasya rañjanīyasya vikramaiḥ | paśyato yuddhalubdho 'haṃ kṛtaṃ kāpuruṣas tvayā ||

Translation

ବୀର୍ୟରେ ପ୍ରଖ୍ୟାତ ଏବଂ ପରାକ୍ରମରେ ରଞ୍ଜନୀୟ ଏମିତି ପ୍ରତିଦ୍ୱନ୍ଦ୍ୱୀ ସମ୍ମୁଖରେ, ଯୁଦ୍ଧଲୁବ୍ଧ ମୁଁ ଦେଖୁଥିବା ସତ୍ତ୍ୱେ, ତୁମେ ମୋତେ କାପୁରୁଷ ସଦୃଶ କରିଦେଲ।

Word by Word

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; relative pronoun

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Prathamā, Ekavacana

• ratham: chariot
• ratham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• idam: this
• idam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of ratham

• mohāt: out of delusion
• mohāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: moha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Pañcamī, Ekavacana

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

• cet: if
• cet: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: cet (अव्यय)
• Form: Śarthe-avyaya (conditional particle: if)

• vahasi: you drive/carry
• vahasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vah (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd), Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

• durmate: O evil-minded one
• durmate: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dur-mati (प्रातिपदिक; dur + mati)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (vocative usage), Sambodhana, Ekavacana

• satyaḥ: truly
• satyaḥ: Pradhāna (प्रधान/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate adjective

• apratitarkaḥ: undeniable (proof)
• apratitarkaḥ: Pradhāna (प्रधान/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-pratitarka (प्रातिपदिक; nañ + pratitarka)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate-noun (‘one who is not to be doubted’ / ‘undoubted inference’)

• me: to me / my
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī (Gen/6th), Ekavacana

• pareṇa: by the enemy
• pareṇa: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; ‘by the other/enemy’

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Prathamā, Ekavacana

• upaskṛtaḥ: have been bribed/instigated
• upaskṛtaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√kṛ (धातु)
• Form: PPP (क्त), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; passive sense ‘have been influenced/instigated’

Context

"While my adversary's valour is widely known, you brought me back like a timid one, while I love war, while I am to be praised in the presence of my enemy."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sārathi (charioteer)

FAQs

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

It reflects the kṣatriya ideal of steadfastness and public courage; withdrawing without cause is seen as adharma in the martial code because it signals fear and undermines duty.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa complains that the charioteer’s action made him look cowardly before a renowned opponent.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage and steadfastness in confrontation—maintaining composure and position when facing a worthy enemy.