Shloka 38

सीताविलापः

Sītā’s Lament over the Illusory Head and Bow

Devanagari script

एतच्छ्रुत्वादशग्रीवोराक्षसप्रतिवेदितम् ।अशोकन्विकांत्यक्त्वामन्त्रिणांदर्शनंययौ ।।6.32.38।।

Transliteration

etac chrutvā daśagrīvo rākṣasa-prativeditam | aśoka-vanikāṃ tyaktvā mantriṇāṃ darśanaṃ yayau ||6.32.38||

Translation

Ao ouvir o relato trazido pelo rākṣasa, Daśagrīva (Rāvaṇa) deixou o bosque de Aśoka e foi ao encontro de seus ministros.

Word by Word

• etat: this, what was said
• etat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (एतद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga (neuter), dvitīyā-vibhakti (accusative/द्वितीया), ekavacana; object of śrutvā

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय, ल्यबन्त); ‘having heard’

• daśa-grīvaḥ: Daśagrīva (Rāvaṇa)
• daśa-grīvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa (दश संख्याशब्द) + grīva (ग्रीवा प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masculine), prathamā (nominative), ekavacana; bahuvrīhi ‘one whose necks are ten’ (name of Rāvaṇa)

• rākṣasa-prativeditam: reported/communicated by a rākṣasa
• rākṣasa-prativeditam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rākṣasa (राक्षस प्रातिपदिक) + prativeditam (प्रतिवेदित कृदन्त)
• Form: Kta-pratyaya (past participle) from √vid (विद्) with prati-; napuṃsakaliṅga, dvitīyā, ekavacana; qualifies etat (‘reported by a rākṣasa’)

• aśoka-nvikām: the Aśoka-grove (Aśoka-park)
• aśoka-nvikām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśoka (अशोक प्रातिपदिक) + nvikā (न्विका/न्विकā प्रातिपदिक; ‘grove/park’ as per context)
• Form: Strīliṅga (feminine), dvitīyā (accusative), ekavacana; place-object with tyaktvā

• tyaktvā: having left
• tyaktvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tyaj (त्यज् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (क्त्वा); ‘having left’

• mantriṇām: of the ministers
• mantriṇām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantrin (मन्त्रिन् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masculine), ṣaṣṭhī (genitive), bahuvacana; with darśanam ‘meeting of the ministers’

• darśanam: meeting/seeing
• darśanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: darśana (दर्शन प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, dvitīyā, ekavacana

• yayau: went
• yayau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (या धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (perfect), prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), ekavacana; parasmaipada

Context

On hearing the submission of the rakshasa, the ten-headed king left the Asoka grove to see the ministers.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa (Daśagrīva)
• rākṣasa (messenger)
• Aśoka grove (Aśoka-vanikā)
• ministers (mantrin)

FAQs

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

The verse foregrounds rāja-nīti (kingly conduct): a ruler responds to intelligence reports by consulting counsel. Even in adharmic leadership, the text highlights the dharmic form of governance—seeking deliberation before action.

What is the narrative situation?

A rākṣasa messenger reports news to Rāvaṇa; upon hearing it, Rāvaṇa leaves the Aśoka grove area and proceeds to meet his ministers for counsel.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Strategic deliberation and reliance on counsel (mantra)—the administrative virtue of consulting ministers before deciding a course of action.