Shloka 12

मारीचोपदेश

प्रतिषेधः / Ravana Rejects Maricha’s Counsel and Orders the Golden Deer Deception

Devanagari script

पञ्च रूपाणि राजानो धारयन्त्यमितौजसः।अग्नेरिन्द्रस्य सोमस्य वरुणस्य यमस्य च।।3.40.12।।

Transliteration

pañca rūpāṇi rājāno dhārayanty amitaujasaḥ |

agner indrasya somasya varuṇasya yamasya ca ||

Translation

بے پایاں قوت والے راجے پانچ روپ دھارتے ہیں: آگ کا، اندر کا، سوم (چندرما) کا، ورُن کا اور یم کا۔

Word by Word

• pañca: five
• pañca: Saṅkhyā (संख्या)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pañca (अव्यय/संख्या-शब्द)
• Form: Numeral used indeclinably (संख्यावाचक-अव्यय)

• rūpāṇi: forms
• rūpāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• rājānaḥ: kings
• rājānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• dhārayanti: bear/assume
• dhārayanti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• amita-ojasaḥ: of immeasurable power
• amita-ojasaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: amita (प्रातिपदिक) + ojas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi (बहुव्रीहि: ‘whose vigor is immeasurable’); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifying rājānaḥ

• agneḥ: of Agni (fire)
• agneḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• indrasya: of Indra
• indrasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• somasya: of Soma
• somasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: soma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• varuṇasya: of Varuna
• varuṇasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varuṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• yamasya: of Yama
• yamasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयार्थक)

Context

Very powerful kings assume five forms like fire, Indra, Moon, Varuna and Yama.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Mārīca
• Agni
• Indra
• Soma
• Varuṇa
• Yama
• Kings (rājānaḥ)

FAQs

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

Rajadharma requires a ruler to embody multiple modes—severity, valor, gentleness, restraint, and justice—according to circumstance.

What is the narrative situation?

In defending his status, Rāvaṇa describes the quasi-divine dimensions of kingship to demand deference from Mārīca.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The ideal of balanced rulership (multi-aspect governance), even though Rāvaṇa himself fails to live up to it.