Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 35, Shloka 8

माल्यवानुपदेशः

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

Devanagari script

सन्दधानोहिकालेनविगृह्णंश्चारिभिस्सह ।।।।स्वपक्षवर्थनंकुर्वन्महदैश्वर्यमश्नुते ।

Transliteration

sandadhāno hi kālena vigṛhṇañ cāribhiḥ saha |

sva-pakṣa-vardhanaṃ kurvan mahad aiśvaryam aśnute ||

Translation

Vì biết kết minh đúng thời, khi cần thì đối địch cùng kẻ thù, lại luôn bồi đắp phe mình, bậc quân vương sẽ đạt được đại quyền uy.

Word by Word

• sandadhānaḥ: forming (alliances)
• sandadhānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + dhā (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'making alliance/putting together'

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle): 'indeed/for'

• kālena: with time/in due course
• kālena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; 'in due course/with time'

• vigṛhṇan: opposing (others)
• vigṛhṇan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + grah (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'opposing/engaging in hostility'

• cāribhiḥ: with spies
• cāribhiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cāri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; 'spies/agents'

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (postposition): 'with' (saha + instr.)

• sva-pakṣa-vardhanam: strengthening one’s own side
• sva-pakṣa-vardhanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + pakṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + vardhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (svapakṣasya vardhanam)

• kurvan: doing
• kurvan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'doing'

• mahat: great
• mahat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (aiśvaryam)

• aiśvaryam: sovereignty
• aiśvaryam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aiśvarya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• aśnute: attains/enjoys
• aśnute: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: aś (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Context

Then, Malyavan the maternal grandfather of Ravana, a very wise Rakshasa indeed said this on hearing Ravana's statement.

Characters & Entities

• enemies (ari)

FAQs

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

Dharma in governance includes timely judgment: peace and conflict are tools to be used ethically and appropriately for protection of the realm.

What is the narrative situation?

Mālyavān explains practical statecraft—when to ally and when to fight—aimed at steering Rāvaṇa away from reckless war.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discernment (viveka): choosing the right course according to time and circumstance.