Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 8, Shloka 12

युद्धकाण्डे अष्टमः सर्गः — राक्षससभा-युद्धपरामर्शः

War-Council Boasts and Stratagems

Devanagari script

इदंममापरंवाक्यंशृणुराजन् यदीच्छसि ।उपायकुशलोह्येवजयेच्छत्रूनतन्द्रितः ।।6.8.12।।

Transliteration

idaṃ mamāparaṃ vākyaṃ śṛṇu rājan yadīcchasi | upāyakuśalo hy eva jayec chatrūn atandritaḥ ||

Translation

‘அரசே, நீங்கள் விரும்பினால் என் இன்னொரு சொல்லையும் கேளுங்கள்; உபாயங்களில் தேர்ந்தும் எப்போதும் விழிப்புடன் இருப்பவனே பகைவரை வெல்ல முடியும்.’

Word by Word

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (gen), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• aparam: another/further
• aparam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (vākyam)

• vākyam: statement
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• śṛṇu: listen
• śṛṇu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपदम्; मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

• rājan: O king
• rājan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative), एकवचन

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (सम्बन्धबोधक) = conditional particle ‘if’

• icchasi: you wish
• icchasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √iṣ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपदम्; मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• upāya-kuśalaḥ: skilled in strategy
• upāya-kuśalaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upāya (प्रातिपदिक) + kuśala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (locative/field sense) = उपायेषु कुशलः; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात) = emphatic/causal particle ‘indeed/for’

• eva: only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात) = restrictive particle ‘only/just’

• jayet: would win
• jayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ji (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/Potential), परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• śatrūn: enemies
• śatrūn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śatru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• atandritaḥ: vigilant
• atandritaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- + tandrita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नञ्-समास/नकारान्त; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (upāya-kuśalaḥ) = vigilant/not lazy

Context

"O King! If you like, listen to my other statement: One who is cunning and is vigilant would win over an enemy."

Characters & Entities

• Prahastha
• Rāvaṇa (as 'rājan')

FAQs

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

Rajadharma values wakeful responsibility: victory should rest on vigilance and intelligent means, not mere bravado—aligning action with truth and careful judgment.

What is the narrative situation?

Prahastha shifts from boasting to offering a general principle of strategy to the king.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vigilance (apramāda/atandratā) and practical wisdom (upāya-jñāna) as essential qualities for leadership.