Shloka 27

रावण-सारथि-संवादः

Ravana and the Charioteer: Counsel, Omens, and Battlefield Conduct

Devanagari script

ततोद्रुतंरावणवाक्यचोदितःप्रचोदयामासहयान्ससारथिः ।स राक्षसेन्द्रस्य ततो महारथःक्षणेनरामस्यरथाग्रतोऽभवत् ।।।।

Transliteration

tato drutaṃ rāvaṇavākyacoditaḥ pracodayāmāsa hayān sa sārathiḥ | sa rākṣasendrasya tato mahārathaḥ kṣaṇena rāmasya rathāgrato 'bhavat ||

Translation

Bấy giờ, được lời Rāvaṇa thúc giục, người đánh xe vội thúc ngựa lao nhanh. Chỉ trong khoảnh khắc, cỗ đại xa của chúa tể Rākṣasa đã đứng trước đầu xe của Rāma.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक अव्यय)

• drutam: swiftly
• drutam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: druta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषण)

• rāvaṇavākyacoditaḥ: urged by Ravana's words
• rāvaṇavākyacoditaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier of sārathiḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rāvaṇa-vākya-codita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; tatpurusha chain: rāvaṇa + vākya (genitive relation) + codita (kta from √cud 'to impel') = 'impelled by Ravana's words'

• pracodayāmāsa: drove on/urged
• pracodayāmāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√cud (चुद्) (causative stem)
• Form: Periphrastic perfect (लिट्-परस्मैपद, आम्-प्रयोग), 3rd person, Singular; 'set in motion/drove on'

• hayān: horses
• hayān: Karma (कर्म) (object of pracodayāmāsa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: haya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• sārathiḥ: charioteer
• sārathiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sārathi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• saḥ: he/that
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; referring to mahārathaḥ

• rākṣasendrasya: of the Rakshasa-lord
• rākṣasendrasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa-indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular; tatpurusha: rākṣasa + indra = 'lord of Rakshasas'

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक अव्यय)

• mahārathaḥ: the great chariot (warrior)
• mahārathaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; karmadhāraya: mahā + ratha = 'great chariot/one with great chariot' (here: the great chariot/warrior)

• kṣaṇena: in a moment
• kṣaṇena: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular; time-instrumental

• rāmasya: of Rama
• rāmasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• rathāgrataḥ: in front of the chariot
• rathāgrataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) (location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ratha-agrataḥ (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Indeclinable (अव्यय) formed with -taḥ; avyayībhāva: ratha + agrataḥ = 'in front of the chariot'

• abhavat: became/appeared/stood
• abhavat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (भू)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

Context

Then,instructed by Ravana,his charioteer started to drive Rakshasa lord's chariot.In a moment,the great chariot stood before Rama's chariot.।। itayāraṣēvālamīkīyēśarīmadarāmāyaṇēādikāvayēyudadhakāṇaḍēṣaḍutataraśatatamasasaragaḥ ।।This is the end of one hundred and sixth sarga of Yuddha Kanda of the first epic, the holy Ramayana composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sārathi (charioteer)
• Rāma
• chariot
• horses

FAQs

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

It emphasizes disciplined execution of duty: once a decision is made, action should be prompt and aligned with one’s assigned role, especially in public and consequential settings like battle.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa’s charioteer, following Rāvaṇa’s instruction, drives quickly so that Rāvaṇa’s chariot returns to the forefront, directly facing Rāma’s chariot.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Readiness and efficiency in service—swift, decisive action without hesitation.