Shloka 31

युद्धकाण्डे द्वादशः सर्गः — रावणस्य परिषद्-सम्बोधनं कुम्भकर्णस्य नीत्युपदेशश्च

Ravana’s Council Address and Kumbhakarna’s Counsel

Devanagari script

अनुपायेनकर्माणिविपरीतानियानिच ।क्रियमाणानिदुष्यन्तिहवींष्यप्रयतेष्विव ।।6.12.31।।

Transliteration

anupāyena karmāṇi viparītāni yāni ca |

kriyamāṇāni duṣyanti havīṃṣy aprayateṣv iva ||6.12.31||

Translation

การงานที่ทำโดยไร้อุบายอันถูกต้อง และการงานที่ทำผิดลำดับแห่งธรรม ย่อมเสียหายไปในขณะกระทำ ดุจเครื่องบูชาในยัญพิธีที่จัดเตรียมไม่พร้อมย่อมมัวหมอง

Word by Word

• anupāyena: by improper means / without a proper plan
• anupāyena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anupāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instrumental/3rd), Ekavacana (Singular)

• karmāṇi: actions, tasks
• karmāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), Prathamā/ Dvitīyā vibhakti (Nom/Acc 1st/2nd), Bahuvacana (Plural)

• viparītāni: contrary, perverse
• viparītāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viparīta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), Prathamā/ Dvitīyā (Nom/Acc), Bahuvacana; viśeṣaṇa of karmāṇi

• yāni: which
• yāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), Prathamā/ Dvitīyā (Nom/Acc), Bahuvacana; relative pronoun referring to karmāṇi

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (conjunction/particle)

• kriyamāṇāni: being done, being performed
• kriyamāṇāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛ (धातु) + śānac (शानच्)
• Form: Vartamāna-kṛdanta (present passive participle), Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā/ Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana; viśeṣaṇa of karmāṇi

• duṣyanti: get spoiled, become tainted
• duṣyanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: duṣ (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Bahuvacana (Plural), Parasmaipada

• havīṃṣi: oblations
• havīṃṣi: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: havis (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), Prathamā/ Dvitīyā (Nom/Acc), Bahuvacana (Plural)

• aprayateṣu: among the unprepared / in the careless
• aprayateṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aprayata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine) (locative plural used generically), Saptamī vibhakti (Locative/7th), Bahuvacana; viśeṣaṇa of implied persons (those unprepared)

• iva: like, as
• iva: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-vācaka avyaya (comparative particle)

Context

"O Ravana! Whoever is the king, having a sense of determination, thinks justifiably and carries out princely duties will not regret."

Characters & Entities

• Kumbhakarṇa
• Rāvaṇa
• Havis (oblations) (ritual concept)

FAQs

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

Dharma insists not only on ends but on right means (upāya). Even a powerful act fails when pursued without proper method or in violation of moral order.

What is the narrative situation?

Continuing his admonition, Kumbhakarṇa explains that Rāvaṇa’s course—wrong in principle and poorly planned—will inevitably decay and fail.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and adherence to proper method (upāya) are emphasized—practical wisdom aligned with ethical order.