Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 106, Shloka 14

रावण-सारथि-संवादः

Ravana and the Charioteer: Counsel, Omens, and Battlefield Conduct

Devanagari script

श्रूयतांप्रतिदास्यामियन्निमित्तंमयारथः ।नदीवेगइवामंभोभिेसंयुगेविनिवर्तितः ।।।।

Transliteration

śrūyatāṃ pratिदāsyāmi yan-nimittaṃ mayā rathaḥ | nadī-vega ivāmbhobhiḥ saṃyuge vinivartitaḥ ||

Translation

“ขอทรงสดับเถิด—ข้าพเจ้าจะทูลตอบเหตุที่ข้าพเจ้าหันรถศึกกลับจากสนามรบ ดุจผู้ผันกระแสน้ำเชี่ยวของแม่น้ำให้ไหลสู่มหาสมุทร”

Word by Word

• श्रूयताम्: let it be heard / please listen
• श्रूयताम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; भावे प्रयोगः (let it be heard)

• प्रतिदास्यामि: I will answer/repay (with an explanation)
• प्रतिदास्यामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + दा (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (simple future), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म) (as qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘निमित्तम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• निमित्तम्: reason, cause
• निमित्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निमित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; ‘प्रतिदास्यामि’ इत्यस्य विषयः

• मया: by me
• मया: Karta (कर्ता) (agent with passive participle)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया (कर्ता/करण), एकवचन

• रथः: the chariot
• रथः: Karta (कर्ता) (subject of passive predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नदीवेगः: the rush of a river
• नदीवेगः: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी + वेग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (नद्याः वेगः); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपमानम्

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक अव्यय

• अम्भोभिः: by waters
• अम्भोभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्भस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन

• संयुगे: in battle
• संयुगे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संयुग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• विनिवर्तितः: was turned back, withdrawn
• विनिवर्तितः: Kriyā (क्रिया) (passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + नि + वृत् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘रथः’ इत्यस्य विधेयविशेषणम्

Context

"O yes! I will answer you. Please listen. like the river entering the ocean speedily is diverted, I have taken back the chariot from the battle.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• chariot (ratha)
• battle (saṃyuga)
• river (nadī)

FAQs

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

Dharma favors accountable action: decisions in war must be explainable through reason and welfare, not mere impulse—hence the charioteer offers a clear rationale.

What is the narrative situation?

The charioteer prepares to justify why he withdrew/turned the chariot in the midst of battle.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and composure—responding to accusation with orderly explanation.