Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 108, Shloka 13

रावणरथवैभव–निमित्तदर्शन–राममातलिसंवादः

Ravana’s Chariot, Portents, and Rama–Matali Instructions

Devanagari script

कामं न त्वंसमाधेयःपुरन्दररथोचितः ।युयुत्सुरहमेकाग्रःस्मारयेत्वां न शिक्ष्ये ।।।।

Transliteration

kāmaṃ na tvaṃ samādheyaḥ purandararathocitaḥ |

yuyutsur aham ekāgraḥ smāraye tvāṃ na śikṣye ||6.108.13||

Translation

De fato, não precisas de instrução: és digno de conduzir a carruagem de Purandara (Indra). Eu, com a mente unificada no combate, apenas te recordo de tempos em tempos; não presumo ensinar-te.

Word by Word

• kāmam: indeed/if you wish
• kāmam: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kāmam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable particle), concessive/emphatic: 'indeed/at will/if you like'

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेधः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (negation particle)

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• samādheyaḥ: to be instructed/reminded
• samādheyaḥ: Pradhāna-viśeṣaṇa (प्रधानविशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ā-√dhā (धा धातु) + yat (यत्)
• Form: Kridanta potential/gerundive (kṛtya: yat); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicate adjective with 'tvam': 'to be instructed/put in mind'

• purandara-ratha-ucitaḥ: fit for Indra’s chariot
• purandara-ratha-ucitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: purandara (प्रातिपदिक) + ratha (प्रातिपदिक) + ucita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying 'tvam': 'fit for Purandara’s (Indra’s) chariot'

• yuyutsuḥ: wishing to fight
• yuyutsuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yudh (धातु) + san (सन्)
• Form: Desiderative adjective (sananta) from √yudh; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicate/qualifier of 'aham'

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• ekāgraḥ: single-pointed/focused
• ekāgraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + agra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya compound; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying 'aham': 'single-pointed'

• smāraye: I remind
• smāraye: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √smṛ (स्मृ धातु) + ṇic (णिच्)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (present), Uttama-puruṣa (1st person), Singular (एकवचन); causative (ṇic): 'I remind'

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेधः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (negation particle)

• śikṣye: I instruct
• śikṣye: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śikṣ (शिक्ष् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (present), Uttama-puruṣa (1st person), Singular (एकवचन); ātmanepada usage: 'I instruct/teach' (negated)

Context

"You are a driver of great Indra's chariot. You are not required to be told. Wishing to fight with rapt attention, I will remind you now and then not instruct you", said Rama to Matali."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Mātali
• Purandara (Indra)

FAQs

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

Dharma in leadership includes humility and respect: even in urgency, Rāma honors expertise and avoids arrogant command, keeping speech aligned with Satya and propriety.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma reassures Mātali that he recognizes his mastery as Indra’s charioteer, and frames his directions as reminders rather than condescending instruction.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vinaya (humility) joined with ekāgratā (focused resolve).