Shloka 15

माल्यवानुपदेशः

Malyavan’s Counsel, Portents in Laṅkā, and the Proposal of Alliance

Devanagari script

तत्त्वयाचरयालोकान्धर्मोपिविनिहतोमहान् ।।।।अधर्मःप्रगृहीतश्चतेनास्मद्बलिनःपरे ।

Transliteration

tattvayā caratā lokān dharmo 'pi vinihato mahān | adharmaḥ pragṛhītaś ca tenās mad-balinaḥ pare |

Translation

เมื่อท่านท่องไปทั่วโลก ท่านได้ละทิ้งแม้ธรรมะอันยิ่งใหญ่และยึดอธรรมะไว้; ด้วยเหตุนั้นศัตรูของเราผู้ตั้งมั่นในธรรมจึงมีกำลังเหนือกว่าเรา

Word by Word

• tat: thus/therefore
• tat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (discourse particle): 'thus/therefore'

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, एकवचन

• caratā: while acting/ranging
• caratā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: car (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त, पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया, एकवचन; 'while acting/moving about' (agreeing with tvayā)

• lokān: worlds/people
• lokān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• dharmaḥ: dharma
• dharmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle): 'even/also'

• vinihataḥ: destroyed
• vinihataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi + ni + han (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'struck down/destroyed'

• mahān: great
• mahān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (dharmaḥ)

• adharmaḥ: adharma
• adharmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• pragṛhītaḥ: embraced
• pragṛhītaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra + grah (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'taken up/embraced'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction): 'and'

• tena: therefore
• tena: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, एकवचन; 'therefore/by that (reason)'

• asmad-balinaḥ: stronger than us
• asmad-balinaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + balin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (asmākam balinaḥ) 'stronger than us/our strong ones' (context: 'stronger than us')

• pare: the enemies/others
• pare: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; 'others/enemies'

Context

"While you were ranging in all the worlds, you gave up righteousness and embraced unrighteousness. Therefore, the enemy who is righteous is stronger than you."

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāvaṇa
• Dharma
• Adharma

FAQs

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

Power ultimately follows dharma: abandoning righteousness weakens one’s cause from within, while the righteous gain strength and legitimacy.

What is the narrative situation?

The advisor attributes the strategic disadvantage of Laṅkā’s side to Rāvaṇa’s sustained commitment to adharma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Accountability in governance—recognizing that a ruler’s personal conduct determines collective fate.