Shloka 41

मारीचाश्रमगमनम्

Ravana’s Journey to Maricha’s Hermitage

Devanagari script

कच्चित्सुकुशलं राजन्लङ्कायां राक्षसेश्वर।केनार्थेन पुनस्त्वं वै तूर्णमेवमिहागतः।।।।

Transliteration

kaccit sukuśalaṃ rājan laṅkāyāṃ rākṣaseśvara |

kenārthena punas tvaṃ vai tūrṇam evam ihāgataḥ ||

Translation

“اے راجا، اے راکشسوں کے ایشور! کیا لنکا میں سب خیریت ہے؟ پھر تم کس کام سے یہاں دوبارہ، اور اتنی جلدی، آ پہنچے ہو؟”

Word by Word

• कच्चित्: I hope/Is it the case that...?
• कच्चित्: Prashna (प्रश्न/Interrogative particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कच्चित् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न/आशङ्का-अव्यय (interrogative particle expressing hope)

• सु-कुशलम्: all is well/welfare
• सु-कुशलम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of implied 'asti')
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + कुशल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (singular); भाववाचक (state of well-being)

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन (singular)

• लङ्कायाम्: in Lanka
• लङ्कायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लङ्का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem.), सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन (singular)

• राक्षस-ईश्वर: O lord of demons
• राक्षस-ईश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन (singular)

• केन: by what/with what
• केन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक (m/n), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (singular)

• अर्थेन: purpose, reason
• अर्थेन: Karana (करण/Instrument; purpose-cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (singular)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/पुनरावृत्ति-अव्यय (adverb)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुषार्थे (2nd person pronoun), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (singular)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Nipata (निपात/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/उपपद-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• तूर्णम्: quickly, so soon
• तूर्णम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणवत् नपुंसक-एकवचन (adverbial accusative)

• एवम्: thus, like this
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देश-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• आगतः: has come
• आगतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + गम् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past active participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (singular)

Context

The younger brother of Kubera (Ravana), the prosperous lord of the demons ascendedthe chariot which could go where he desired. Embellished with gold, studded with gems, harnessed with demon-faced donkeys, the chariot rolled towards the ocean, rumbling like a cloud.

Characters & Entities

• Mārīca
• Rāvaṇa
• Laṅkā

FAQs

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

Dharma begins with responsible inquiry: before acting, one seeks truth (satya) about purpose and circumstance. Mārīca’s questioning models cautious discernment.

What is the narrative situation?

Mārīca greets Rāvaṇa formally and asks why he has returned so soon, signaling that something unusual is underway.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and discernment—asking direct questions rather than blindly agreeing to a powerful visitor.