Shloka 23

मारीचप्रलोभनम् / Ravana Solicits Maricha’s Aid

Golden Deer Stratagem

Devanagari script

ओष्ठौ परिलिहञ्चुष्कौ नेत्रैरनिमिषैरिव।मृतभूत इवार्तस्तु रावणं समुदैक्षत।।।।

Transliteration

oṣṭhau parilihaṃś cuṣkau netrair animiṣair iva |

mṛtabhūta ivārtaḥ tu rāvaṇaṃ samudaikṣata ||

Translation

Ông liếm đôi môi khô khốc, đôi mắt như không hề chớp; Mārīca, khổ não như kẻ đã chết, cứ trừng nhìn Rāvaṇa.

Word by Word

• oṣṭhau: (his) two lips
• oṣṭhau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: oṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन)

• parilihañ: licking (around)
• parilihañ: Sahakriyā (सहक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pari + √lih (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative, Singular used adverbially with implied subject; 'while licking'

• cuṣkau: dry
• cuṣkau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuṣka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual; adjective agreeing with oṣṭhau

• netraiḥ: with (his) eyes
• netraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: netra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• animiṣaiḥ: unblinking
• animiṣaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: animiṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural; adjective qualifying netraiḥ

• iva: as if
• iva: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, simile particle

• mṛta-bhūtaḥ: like a dead person
• mṛta-bhūtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛta (कृदन्त; √mṛ) + bhūta (कृदन्त; √bhū)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: 'dead-being' = like a dead person; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, simile particle

• ārtaḥ: distressed
• ārtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ārta (कृदन्त; √ṛ/√ar? lexical 'afflicted')
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; predicate adjective of subject

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle

• rāvaṇam: Ravana
• rāvaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• samudaikṣata: looked at
• samudaikṣata: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ud + √īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ (Imperfect/लङ्), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), Prathama-puruṣa, Singular

Context

Licking his dried up lips, as though his eyes stopped winking like those of the dead, Maricha stared at Ravana, distressed.

Characters & Entities

• Mārīca
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

The verse underscores that adharma breeds inner collapse—fear and despair—whereas dharma grants composure. Moral disorder manifests as psychological turmoil.

What is the narrative situation?

After hearing Rāma’s name and the implied plan, Mārīca is shown in a state of shock and dread as he looks at Rāvaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence (nīti) is implied in Mārīca’s hesitation: he recognizes the danger of opposing dharma embodied by Rāma.