Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 8, Shloka 1

युद्धकाण्डे अष्टमः सर्गः — राक्षससभा-युद्धपरामर्शः

War-Council Boasts and Stratagems

Devanagari script

ततोनीलाम्बुदनिभ: प्रहस्तोनामराक्षसः ।अब्रवीत्प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यंशूरस्सेनापतिस्तदा ।।6.8.1।।

Transliteration

tato nīlāmbudanibhaḥ prahasto nāma rākṣasaḥ | abravīt prāñjalir vākyaṃ śūraḥ senāpatis tadā ||

Translation

அப்போது நீல மேகம்போன்ற நிறமுடைய பிரஹஸ்தன் என்னும் வீர ராட்சச சேனாபதி, கைகூப்பி இவ்வசனத்தை உரைத்தான்.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kāla/Anantara (काल/अनन्तर)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• नीलाम्बुदनिभः: cloud-dark in appearance
• नीलाम्बुदनिभः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nīla-ambuda-nibha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; compound: nīla (नील) + ambuda (अम्बुद) + nibha (निभ) = 'like a dark cloud'

• प्रहस्तः: Prahastha
• प्रहस्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prahasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• नाम: named/called
• नाम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle indicating name (नाम-निपात)

• राक्षसः: Rakshasa
• राक्षसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; apposition to प्रहस्तः

• अब्रवीत्: said/spoke
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; Parasmaipada

• प्राञ्जलिः: with folded palms
• प्राञ्जलिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāñjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; 'with folded hands' (gesture adjective)

• वाक्यम्: words/speech
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• शूरः: heroic
• शूरः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; qualifies प्रहस्तः

• सेनापतिः: army-commander
• सेनापतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: senā-pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; compound: senā (सेना) + pati (पति)

• तदा: at that time
• तदा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Temporal adverb (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

Context

Then a Rakshasa whose body was like a dark cloud, called Prahastha, the heroic chief of the army, spoke these words with folded palms.

Characters & Entities

• Prahastha
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Dharma in governance includes respectful, orderly counsel: a commander approaches the ruler with decorum (folded hands) before presenting views on war.

What is the narrative situation?

Prahastha is introduced as a principal rākṣasa commander who begins addressing the king (Rāvaṇa).

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Formal discipline and courtly propriety in counsel—speaking with respect even amid crisis.