Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 111, Shloka 1

रावणवधः — The Slaying of Ravana

Brahmāstra Discharge

Devanagari script

अथसंस्मारयामासमातलिराघवंतदा ।अजानन्निवकिंवीरत्वमेनमनुवर्तसे ।।।।

Transliteration

atha saṃsmārayāmāsa mātali rāghavaṃ tadā | ajānann iva kiṃ vīra tvam enam anuvartase ||

Translation

अथ मातलिः तदा राघवं संस्मारयामास—अजानन्निव किं वीर त्वमेनमनुवर्तसे इति।

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: वाक्योपक्रम (Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (discourse particle), अनन्तरार्थक (then/now)

• संस्मारयामास: reminded
• संस्मारयामास: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + स्मृ (धातु) णिच् (causative)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिजन्त (causative): 'caused to remember/reminded'

• मातलिः: Matali
• मातलिः: कर्ता (Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• राघवम्: Raghava (Rama)
• राघवम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तदा: at that time
• तदा: कालाधिकरण (Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय; तद्-प्रातिपदिकात्)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), कालवाचक (then)

• अजानन्: not knowing
• अजानन्: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of tvam)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'not knowing'—इव सह

• इव: as if
• इव: उपमान (Simile marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक अव्यय (like/as if)

• किम्: why
• किम्: प्रश्न (Interrogative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक अव्यय/सर्वनाम (interrogative: why/what)

• वीर: O hero
• वीर: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: कर्ता (Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• एनम्: him/this one
• एनम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अनुवर्तसे: follow/act in accordance with
• अनुवर्तसे: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

Context

Matali reminded Rama in this way," O heroic Rama, why are you doing this way, as if you do not know?"

Characters & Entities

• Mātali
• Rāma (Rāghava)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes receptivity to correction: even the righteous hero benefits from reminders so that action remains aligned with right knowledge and purpose.

What is the narrative situation?

Mātali begins advising Rāma, implying that Rāma’s current approach needs adjustment in the duel.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vinaya (teachability) is implicitly called for in Rāma; wise guardianship and frank counsel are emphasized in Mātali.