Shloka 2

माल्यवानुपदेशः

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

Devanagari script

तंनिनादंनिशम्याथरावणोराक्षसेश्वरः ।मुहूर्तंध्यानमास्थायसचिवानभ्युदैक्षत ।।।।

Transliteration

taṃ ninādaṃ niśamyātha rāvaṇo rākṣaseśvaraḥ |

muhūrtaṃ dhyānam āsthāya sacivān abhyudaikṣata ||

Translation

اُس شور و غل کو سن کر رावن، رाक्षسوں کا اِشور، ایک گھڑی دھیان میں ٹھہرا، پھر اپنے سچیو ں کی طرف نظر کی۔

Word by Word

• tam: that
• tam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ninādam: roar/sound
• ninādam: Karma (कर्म/object of hearing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nināda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• niśamya: having heard
• niśamya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni + śam (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive), ‘निशम्य’ = having heard

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then)

• rāvaṇaḥ: Ravana
• rāvaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• rākṣaseśvaraḥ: lord of the Rakshasas
• rākṣaseśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘राक्षसानाम् ईश्वरः’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• muhūrtam: for a moment
• muhūrtam: Kāla (काल/temporal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muhūrta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कालावधि (duration)

• dhyānam: reflection/meditation
• dhyānam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhyāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• āsthāya: having assumed
• āsthāya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + sthā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive), ‘आस्थाय’ = having resorted to/undertaken

• sacivān: ministers
• sacivān: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saciva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• abhyudaikṣata: looked at
• abhyudaikṣata: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi + dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; ‘अभ्युदैक्षत’ = looked at

Context

"Their power is difficult to overcome as they are pure souls and blazing like fire by their austerity. They follow virtues faithfully intending to acquire merit like brahmanas. They are standing firmly curbing their senses doing sacrifices offering oblations into sacrificial fires following tradition. Having subdued the Rakshasas, they are continuing to recite Vedas and on hearing Vedas the Rakshasas are running away in different directions like the rain cloud is scattered in the hot season."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Rākṣasas
• ministers (sacivāḥ)

FAQs

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

It highlights deliberation (manana) before action—an aspect of righteous governance: a ruler should pause, reflect, and consult rather than react impulsively.

What is the narrative situation?

An ominous or alarming sound is heard, and Rāvaṇa momentarily reflects before turning to his ministers, setting up counsel and response.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Strategic restraint and consultation—though Rāvaṇa’s later choices may be adharma, the verse depicts a moment of measured consideration.