Shloka 17

ऐन्द्ररथप्रदानम्

Indra’s Chariot Offered to Rāma; The Duel Intensifies

Devanagari script

आरुह्येमंरथंवीरराक्षसंजहिरावणम् ।मयासारथिनाराजन् महेन्द्रइवदानवान् ।।।।

Transliteration

āruhya imaṃ rathaṃ vīra rākṣasaṃ jahi rāvaṇam |

mayā sārathinā rājan mahendra iva dānavān ||

Translation

ข้าแต่พระราชาผู้กล้าหาญ เสด็จขึ้นสู่รถศึกคันนี้เถิด โดยมีข้าเป็นสารถี แล้วทรงประหารรากษสทศกัณฐ์ ดุจพระมหิทราเคยปราบเหล่าทานวะ

Word by Word

• आरुह्य: having mounted
• आरुह्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Converb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-रुह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund): ‘having mounted’

• इमम्: this
• इमम्: विशेषण (Demonstrative qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• रथम्: chariot
• रथम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

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

• राक्षसम्: the rākṣasa
• राक्षसम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• जहि: strike/kill
• जहि: क्रिया (Command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हन् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• रावणम्: Rāvaṇa
• रावणम्: कर्म (Object-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; राक्षसम् इत्यस्य विशेष्य (apposition)

• मया: by me
• मया: सहकारक/करण (Instrument/Accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘by me/with me’

• सारथिना: as (your) charioteer
• सारथिना: सहकारक/करण (Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सारथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘as charioteer’

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

• महेन्द्रः: Mahendra (Indra)
• महेन्द्रः: उपमान (Upamāna/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘महान् इन्द्रः’

• इव: like
• इव: उपमा-सम्बन्ध (Comparison marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक अव्यय (comparative particle)

• दानवान्: the Dānavas (demons)
• दानवान्: कर्म (Object of implied ‘jahi’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन

Context

"O heroic king! With me as charioteer, mounting this chariot, kill the Rakshasa Ravana as Mahendra killed the demons."

Characters & Entities

• Mātali
• Rāma
• Rāvaṇa
• Mahendra (Indra)
• Dānavas
• chariot

FAQs

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

Dharma may require decisive action against adharma: Mātali’s counsel frames the slaying of Rāvaṇa as protection of cosmic and social order, not personal vengeance.

What is the narrative situation?

Mātali invites Rāma to mount Indra’s chariot and directly confront Rāvaṇa, offering himself as charioteer.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kṣātra-dharma (warrior duty): courage coupled with rightful intent—acting firmly to end oppression.