Shloka 5

माल्यवानुपदेशः

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

Devanagari script

भवतश्चाप्यहंवेमदियुद्धेसत्यपराक्रमान् ।।।।तूषिकानीक्षतोऽन्योन्यंविदित्वारामविक्रमम् ।

Transliteration

bhavataścāpy ahaṃ vema di yuddhe satyaparākrāmān |

tūṣikān īkṣato'nyonyaṃ viditvā rāmavikramam ||

Translation

میں تمہیں بھی جنگ میں سچے پرाकرم والے جانتا ہوں؛ مگر رام کے پرाकرم کو سمجھ کر تم ایک دوسرے کو دیکھتے ہوئے خاموش کھڑے رہتے ہو۔

Word by Word

• bhavataḥ: of you
• bhavataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavant (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-प्राय, पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; ‘of you’

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

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (also)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• vema: know
• vema: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद; ‘वेमि/वेम’ = I know

• ad: (particle)
• ad: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ad (अव्यय)
• Form: पाठभेद/अवग्रह-चिह्नस्थाने; अत्र ‘अद्’ इति निपातवत् (possibly metrical filler)

• yuddhe: in war
• yuddhe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• satya-parākramān: (you) of true valor
• satya-parākramān: Karma (कर्म/object of knowing)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: satya + parākrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘सत्यः पराक्रमः येषाम्’), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (भवतः)

• tūṣikān: silent
• tūṣikān: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tūṣika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘तूषिक’ = silent/mute

• īkṣataḥ: looking
• īkṣataḥ: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ/शानच्-सम्भव (present participle) रूप; अत्र द्विवचन/बहुवचन-सम्बन्धे ‘ईक्षतः’ = (you) looking

• anyonyaṃ: at each other
• anyonyaṃ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anyonya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् परस्परार्थे क्रियाविशेषण (mutually/each other)

• viditvā: having known
• viditvā: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive), ‘विदित्वा’ = having known

• rāma-vikramam: Rama's prowess
• rāma-vikramam: Karma (कर्म/object of knowing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma + vikrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: ‘रामस्य विक्रमः’), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Context

"Best among men and foremost of counsellors, mighty Malyavan beholding Ravana, the Lord of Rakshasas and keenly observing his mind (that Ravana is not liking the counsel) remained silent."।। ityārṣēvālmīkīyēśrīmadrāmāyaṇēādikāvyēyuddhakāṇḍēpañcatriṅśassargaḥ ।।This is the end of the thirty fifth sarga of Yuddha Kanda of the first epic the holy Ramayana composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma in leadership includes honest appraisal of circumstances; silence born of fear or confusion must be replaced by truthful deliberation and responsible action.

What is the narrative situation?

Mālyavān points out that despite the rākṣasas’ reputed bravery, knowledge of Rāma’s might has made them hesitant and silent.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Truthfulness (satya) in assessment—acknowledging an opponent’s strength without self-deception.