Shloka 16

मारीचाश्रमगमनम्

Ravana’s Journey to Maricha’s Hermitage

Devanagari script

दिव्याभरणमाल्याभिर्दिव्यरूपाभिरावृतम्।क्रीडारतिविधिज्ञाभिरप्सरोभिस्सहस्रशः।।।।

Transliteration

divyābharaṇamālyābhir divyarūpābhir āvṛtam |

krīḍāratividhijñābhir apsarobhiḥ sahasraśaḥ ||3.35.16||

Translation

Он был наполнен тысячами апсар — божественной красоты, украшенных небесными убранствами и гирляндами, искусных в играх и в науке любви.

Word by Word

• sevitam: frequented
• sevitam: Karma (कर्म / Patient; implied 'it')
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sev (सेव् धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि — 'frequented/inhabited/served'

• deva-patnībhiḥ: by the wives of the gods
• deva-patnībhiḥ: Karaṇa (करणम् / Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva + patnī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), बहुवचन; 'devānāṃ patnyaḥ' (wives of gods)

• śrīmatībhiḥ: by prosperous (goddesses)
• śrīmatībhiḥ: Karaṇa (करणम् / Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śrīmatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् — qualifying devapatnībhiḥ

• śriyā: with splendor
• śriyā: Karaṇa (करणम् / Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन

• āvṛtam: endowed/covered
• āvṛtam: Karma (कर्म / Patient; implied 'it')
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√vṛ (वृञ्/वृ धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि — 'covered/endowed'

• deva-dānava-saṅghaiḥ: by hosts of gods and demons
• deva-dānava-saṅghaiḥ: Karaṇa (करणम् / Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva + dānava + saṅgha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्वः — 'devāś ca dānavāś ca' + saṅgha (hosts)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध / connective)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः (conjunction)

• caritam: roamed/visited
• caritam: Karma (कर्म / Patient; implied 'it')
• Type: Verb
• Root: √car (चर् धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि — 'roamed/visited'

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध / discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अवधान/विरोधार्थक-निपातः (particle: 'indeed/but')

• amṛta-āśibhiḥ: by nectar-eaters (immortals)
• amṛta-āśibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करणम् / Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amṛta + āśin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), बहुवचन; 'amṛtam āśnanti ye' (those who eat/drink nectar)

Context

The place looked charming with nagas, garudas, gandharvas, kinneras in their thousands and with the descendants of ajas, vaikhanasas, valakhilyas and with those who drink the rays of Sun and Moon for survival, with sages who were highly disciplined in the intake of food, spiritually accomplished and selfcontrolled hermits and charanas.

Characters & Entities

• apsarases
• garlands

FAQs

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

The verse depicts sensual and aesthetic abundance; in the Ramayana’s moral universe, such pleasures are not condemned per se, but dharma requires restraint and rightful boundaries. Desire becomes adharma when it violates consent, duty, and truth.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator continues portraying a wondrous, celestial atmosphere populated by apsarases, expanding the sense of a liminal, otherworldly region.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The implicit virtue is self-control: the epic repeatedly teaches that the ability to encounter beauty without being ruled by it is a mark of dharmic strength.