Shloka 8

माल्यवानुपदेशः—रावणक्रोधः तथा लङ्काद्वाररक्षा-व्यवस्था

Malyavan’s Counsel, Ravana’s Anger, and the Fortification of Lanka

Devanagari script

आनीयचवनासतीतांपद्महीनामिवश्रियम् ।किमर्थंप्रतिदास्यामिराघवस्यभयादहम् ।।।।

Transliteration

ānīya ca vanāt sītāṃ padmahīnām iva śriyam | kimarthaṃ pratidāsyāmi rāghavasya bhayād aham || 6.36.8 ||

Translation

เรานำสีตามาจากพงไพร—ดุจพระศรีที่ไร้ดอกบัว—แล้วเหตุใดเราจึงต้องคืนเธอไปด้วยความหวาดกลัวต่อราฆวะ?

Word by Word

• आनीय: having brought
• आनीय: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-नी (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल (prior action), परस्मैपदी-धातु; ‘having brought’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• वनात्: from the forest
• वनात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन

• सीताम्: Sita
• सीताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• पद्महीनाम्: devoid of the lotus
• पद्महीनाम्: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद्म + हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (पद्मेन हीना = lotus-less); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; श्रियम् इति विशेषणम्

• इव: like/as
• इव: Upamana-marker (उपमान-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• श्रियम्: Lakshmi/fortune
• श्रियम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• किमर्थम्: for what purpose/why
• किमर्थम्: Hetu/Prayojana (हेतु/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्न-अव्यय; तत्पुरुष-समास (किम् अर्थः = for what purpose?)

• प्रतिदास्यामि: shall give back/return
• प्रतिदास्यामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-दा (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future/भविष्यत्), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• राघवस्य: of Raghava (Rama)
• राघवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• भयात्: from fear
• भयात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, उत्तम-पुरुष, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

Context

"The Lord of Rakshasas is a terror to all including the Devas and am endowed with all kinds of prowess and efficiency. Why do you think I am deficient?"

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Śrī/Lakṣmī
• lotus (padma)
• Rāghava (Rāma)
• forest (vana)

FAQs

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

Dharma condemns the wrongful taking of another’s spouse; returning Sītā is the righteous act, but Rāvaṇa rejects it due to desire and pride.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa justifies keeping Sītā and refuses the idea of returning her, dismissing fear of Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s sanctity and inviolability are implied; the verse highlights the vice of kāma (desire) overpowering moral restraint.