Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 57, Shloka 14

प्रहस्तनिर्याणम्

Prahasta’s Departure and the Muster of the Rakshasa Host

Devanagari script

प्रदानेनतुसीतायाःश्रेयोव्यवसितंमया ।।।।अप्रदानेपुनर्युद्धंदृष्टमेत्तथैवनः ।

Transliteration

pradānena tu sītāyāḥ śreyo vyavasitaṃ mayā | apradāne punar yuddhaṃ dṛṣṭam et tathaiva naḥ || 6.57.14 ||

Translation

ข้าพเจ้าตัดสินแล้วว่า การคืนสีตาเป็นหนทางอันประเสริฐกว่า; แต่หากไม่คืนแล้ว สงคราม—ดังที่พวกเรามองเห็น—ย่อมตามมาเป็นแน่แท้

Word by Word

• प्रदानेन: by giving
• प्रदानेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रदान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• तु: but
• तु: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वयार्थक-निपात (but)

• सीतायाः: of Sita
• सीतायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• श्रेयः: the better course
• श्रेयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• व्यवसितम्: decided
• व्यवसितम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + अव + सि (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन: "decided"

• मया: by me
• मया: Kartr-karana (कर्तृ-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• अप्रदाने: in (the case of) not giving
• अप्रदाने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्रदान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (Singular): "in case of non-giving"

• पुनः: then; again
• पुनः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरावृत्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (adverb): "again/then"

• युद्धम्: war
• युद्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• दृष्टम्: foreseen
• दृष्टम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन: "seen/foreseen"

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (thus/in that way)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (indeed/just)

• नः: for us
• नः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural): "for us/among us"

Context

"If Sita is given away it is beneficial and if not given war is foreseen is known to us."

Characters & Entities

• Prahasta
• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā

FAQs

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

Restitution is dharmic: returning what was wrongfully taken (Sītā) is the ‘better course’ and prevents wider harm.

What is the narrative situation?

Prahasta advises Rāvaṇa that giving Sītā back is best; refusing will lead to war.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral clarity and foresight—recognizing the righteous option and its practical consequences.