Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 24, Shloka 28

गङ्गा–सरयू-सङ्गमः, मलद–करूश-देशकथा, ताटकावनप्रवेशोपदेशः

The Confluence of Gaṅgā and Sarayū; the Tale of Malada–Karūśa; Counsel on Tātakā’s Forest

Devanagari script

इमौ जनपदौ नित्यं विनाशयति राघव।मलदांश्च करूशांश्च ताटका दुष्टचारिणी।।1.24.28।।

Transliteration

imau janapadau nityaṃ vināśayati rāghava |

maladāṃś ca karūśāṃś ca tāṭakā duṣṭacāriṇī ||1.24.28||

Translation

“罗格瓦啊，那个作恶多端的塔塔卡不断地蹂躏着马拉达和卡鲁沙这两个地区。”

Word by Word

• वृत्तबाहुः: round-armed
• वृत्तबाहुः: विशेषण (Adjectival to राक्षसः/मारीचः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृत्तबाहु = वृत्त + बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: 'whose arms are round'

• महावीर्यः: very powerful
• महावीर्यः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महावीर्य = महा + वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: 'great in prowess'

• विपुलास्यः: broad-faced
• विपुलास्यः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विपुलास्य = विपुल + आस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: 'broad-faced'

• तनुः: body
• तनुः: समनाधिकरण (Appositional descriptor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'body' (often feminine)

• महान्: huge
• महान्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying implied subject)

• राक्षसः: the rākṣasa
• राक्षसः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भैरवाकारः: dreadful-formed
• भैरवाकारः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भैरवाकार = भैरव + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: 'dreadful in form'

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: अधिकरण (कालाधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावे प्रयोगः; क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative)

• त्रासयते: frightens/terrorizes
• त्रासयते: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्रस् (धातु) [णिच् causative: त्रासय]
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिजन्त (causative)

• प्रजाः: the people
• प्रजाः: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

Context

O Rama! none dare approach this country ravaged by such dreadful, intolerable yakshini.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Rāma (Rāghava)
• Tāṭakā
• Malada
• Karūśa

FAQs

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

A ruler/hero’s dharma is protection: when innocents and settlements are repeatedly harmed, adharma must be restrained.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra informs Rāma that Tāṭakā is ravaging the nearby regions, motivating the coming confrontation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Responsibility to protect society—Rāma is being called to act as a guardian against persistent wrongdoing.