Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 15, Shloka 21

पञ्चदशः सर्गः — देवकृत-प्रार्थना, रावणवधोपायः, विष्णोः मानुषावतारनियोजनम्

Sarga 15: The Devas’ Petition, the Means to Slay Ravana, and Vishnu’s Commission to Incarnate as Man

Devanagari script

स हि देवांश्च गन्धर्वान्सिद्धांश्च मुनिसत्तमान्।राक्षसो रावणो मूर्खो वीर्योत्सेकेन बाधते।।1.15.21।।

Transliteration

sa hi devāṃś ca gandharvān siddhāṃś ca munisattamān |

rākṣaso rāvaṇo mūrkho vīryotsekena bādhate ||1.15.21||

Translation

因为那愚昧的罗刹罗波那，恃勇自傲、狂气膨胀，折磨诸天、乾闼婆、悉地者，以及最尊胜的圣仙们。

Word by Word

• ऋषयः: sages
• ऋषयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• ततः: then/thereupon
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/अनन्तरार्थे अव्यय (thereupon/therefore)

• तेन: by him
• तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘by him’ (Rāvaṇa)

• गन्धर्वाप्सरसः: gandharvas and apsarases
• गन्धर्वाप्सरसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धर्व + अप्सरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व: ‘gandharvas and apsarases’

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (also/likewise)

• क्रीडन्तः: sporting
• क्रीडन्तः: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्रीड् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘sporting’

• नन्दनवने: in Nandana grove
• नन्दनवने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दन + वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘in Nandana-grove’

• क्रूरेण: by the cruel one
• क्रूरेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘by the cruel one’

• किल: it is said
• किल: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किल (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), hearsay/report ‘it is said’

• हिंसिताः: were harmed/tortured
• हिंसिताः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हिंस् (धातु)
• Form: कर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; predicate ‘were harmed’

Context

"That stupid rakshasa, Ravana, with his haughty prowess, is terrorising the gods, gandharvas, siddhas and great rishis.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• rākṣasa
• deva (gods)
• gandharva
• siddha
• muni

FAQs

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

Power without discernment becomes adharma: pride in strength (vīrya-utsēka) leads to oppression and must be checked.

What is the narrative situation?

The petitioners detail Rāvaṇa’s widespread harassment of divine and sage communities to justify urgent intervention.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast, the virtue highlighted is humility; Rāvaṇa’s lack of it marks him as ethically unfit to rule.