Shloka 15

मारीचोपदेशः — Maricha’s Counsel to Ravana

On Rama’s Dharma and the Peril of Abduction

Devanagari script

शरार्चिषमाधृष्यं चापखङ्गेन्धनं रणे।रामाग्निं सहसा दीप्तं न प्रवेष्टुं त्वमर्हसि।।।।

Transliteration

śarārciṣam ādhṛṣyaṃ cāpa-khaḍg-endhanaṃ raṇe | rāmāgniṃ sahasā dīptaṃ na praveṣṭuṃ tvam arhasi ||

Translation

Ngươi không nên liều mình lao vào ngọn lửa là Rāma—bất khả xâm phạm nơi chiến trận—lửa bừng cháy thình lình, mũi tên là ngọn lửa, cung và kiếm là củi đốt.

Word by Word

• śara-arciṣam: having arrows as flames
• śara-arciṣam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara-arciṣ (प्रातिपदिक; शर + अर्चिष्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणसमास used adjectivally to 'rāma-agnim'

• ādhṛṣyam: unassailable
• ādhṛṣyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-dhṛṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त; यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive-like adjective) from √धृष् with आ-; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'not to be assailed/overpowered'

• cāpa-khaṅga-indhanam: with bow and sword as fuel
• cāpa-khaṅga-indhanam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cāpa-khaṅga-indhana (प्रातिपदिक; चाप + खङ्ग + इन्धन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'bow and sword as fuel' (dvandva within tatpurusha sense) used adjectivally to 'rāma-agnim'

• raṇe: in battle
• raṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• rāma-agnim: the fire of Rama
• rāma-agnim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma-agni (प्रातिपदिक; राम + अग्नि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• sahasā: suddenly; at once
• sahasā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sahasā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) = 'suddenly/at once/with force'

• dīptam: blazing
• dīptam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīpta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त; क्त (PPP) from √दीप्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग द्वितीया, एकवचन; agrees with 'rāma-agnim' (masc. acc. sg.)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• praveṣṭum: to enter
• praveṣṭum: Karma (कर्म; infinitival object)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-viś (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन् (Infinitive); 'to enter'

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• arhasi: are fit; should
• arhasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arh (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

You should not give up happiness,your dear life and kingdom and come to Rama who is a variable god of death. His bow is like on open burning mouth, and his flaming arrows are like fire. He is all anger. He is wielder of bow and arrows. He can strike the enemy army (alone).

Characters & Entities

• Mārīca
• Rāvaṇa
• Rāma
• bow
• sword
• arrows

FAQs

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

Dharma includes restraint and right judgment: do not pursue a wrongful aim that leads to self-destruction, especially against a righteous and superior opponent.

What is the narrative situation?

Mārīca uses a fire metaphor to dissuade Rāvaṇa from provoking Rāma through the planned abduction.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s invincible valor in righteous battle, and the counsel of prudence as a protective virtue.