Shloka 22

प्रहस्तनिर्याणम्

Prahasta’s Departure and the Muster of the Rakshasa Host

Devanagari script

हुताशनंतर्पयतांब्राह्मणांश्चनमस्यताम् ।आज्यगन्धप्रतिवहःसुरभिर्मारुतोववौ ।।।।

Transliteration

hutāśanaṃ tarpayatāṃ brāhmaṇāṃś ca namasyatām |

ājyagandha-prativahaḥ surabhir māruto vavau ||

Translation

Khi họ dâng lễ làm thỏa lòng Hỏa Thần thiêng (Agni) và cúi đầu đảnh lễ các bà-la-môn, một làn gió thơm dịu thổi qua, mang theo hương bơ sữa (ghee).

Word by Word

• हुताशनम्: the fire (oblation-eater)
• हुताशनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hutāśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (hutaṃ aśnāti iti), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तर्पयताम्: (you all) propitiate/satiate
• तर्पयताम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tṛp (धातु; causative tarpaya-)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन; causative stem (तर्पय-)

• ब्राह्मणान्: Brahmanas
• ब्राह्मणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya-dyotaka (समुच्चयद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• नमस्यताम्: (you all) bow to/worship
• नमस्यताम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nam (धातु; namasya-)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), आत्मनेपद, मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• आज्यगन्धप्रतिवहः: (wind) carrying the fragrance of ghee
• आज्यगन्धप्रतिवहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ājya + gandha + prativaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाससमूह; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषप्रधान (ājyasya gandhaḥ; taṃ prativahati), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सुरभिः: fragrant, pleasant
• सुरभिः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: surabhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; मारुतः इति विशेषण

• मारुतः: wind
• मारुतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māruta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ववौ: blew
• ववौ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vā (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Context

In a short while the whole of Lanka was filled with elephant size Rakshasa warriors gathered with different kinds of weapons.

Characters & Entities

• brāhmaṇas
• ghee (ājya)
• wind (māruta)

FAQs

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

It raises a key Ramayana theme: outward ritual and reverence can coexist with unrighteous intent. Dharma is not only ceremony but also moral purpose and restraint.

What is the narrative situation?

During war preparations, the Rākṣasas perform rites—offerings to fire and salutations to brāhmaṇas—while the atmosphere becomes fragrant.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Respect for sacred institutions (fire-ritual and brāhmaṇas), though the epic invites reflection on the gap between piety and ethics.