Shloka 15

रावणस्यात्मप्रशंसा लङ्कावर्णनं च

Ravana’s Self-Praise and the Description of Lanka

Devanagari script

स्थापयित्वा प्रियं पुत्रं राज्ञा दशरथेन यः।मन्दवीर्यस्सुतो ज्येष्ठस्ततः प्रस्थापितो वनम्।।।।

Transliteration

sthāpayitvā priyaṃ putraṃ rājñā daśarathena yaḥ | mandavīryaḥ suto jyeṣṭhas tataḥ prasthāpito vanam ||

Translation

அரசன் தசரதன் தன் பிரியமான புதல்வன் (பரதன்) ஐ நிறுவிய பின், வீரியம் குறைந்தவன் எனக் கூறப்பட்ட மூத்த புதல்வனை வனத்திற்கு அனுப்பினான்।

Word by Word

• sthāpayitvā: having installed/appointed
• sthāpayitvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sthā (स्था धातु) + ṇic (णिच् causative) → sthāpaya + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: णिजन्त-धातोः क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (causative absolutive/gerund)

• priyam: dear
• priyam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of putram

• putram: son
• putram: Karma (कर्म/object of sthāpayitvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• rājñā: by the king
• rājñā: Kartr̥ (कर्ता; agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• daśarathena: by Dasharatha
• daśarathena: Kartr̥ (कर्ता; agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject of implied clause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक relative pronoun

• manda-vīryaḥ: weak in valor
• manda-vīryaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण of sutaḥ/jyeṣṭhaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: manda (प्रातिपदिक) + vīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (मन्दं वीर्यम् यस्य)

• sutaḥ: son
• sutaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; subject of prasthāpitaḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• jyeṣṭhaḥ: eldest
• jyeṣṭhaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jyeṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण of sutaḥ

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla (काल/sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, तदर्थक-काल/क्रमवाचक (then/thereupon)

• prasthāpitaḥ: was sent away
• prasthāpitaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया; passive predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra+sthā (स्था धातु) + ṇic (causative) → prasthāpaya + kta (क्त)
• Form: णिजन्त-धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि (was sent forth)

• vanam: to the forest
• vanam: Gati/Karma (गति-कर्म; destination)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Context

Considering the eldest son a weakling, king Dasaratha has sent him away to the forest so that he could consecrate his dear son(Bharata).

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Bharata
• Rāma

FAQs

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

It shows the adharma of distortion: Rāvaṇa twists the truth of Rāma’s exile to manipulate Sītā. Dharma aligns with satya—faithful representation of events.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa attempts to undermine Sītā’s trust in Rāma and his family by presenting a biased account of the succession and exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s virtue, though attacked here, is adherence to duty and truth; Sītā’s virtue is discerning truth amid propaganda.