Shloka 1

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

मेथावी तु ततो ध्यात्वा स किञ्चिदिदमुत्तरम्।लब्धसंज्ञस्ततस्तं तु वेदज्ञो नृपमब्रवीत्।।1.15.1।।

Transliteration

methāvī tu tato dhyātvā sa kiñcid idam uttaram | labdha-saṃjñas tatas taṃ tu veda-jño nṛpam abravīt ||

Translation

তখন মেধাবী বেদজ্ঞ কিছুক্ষণ ধ্যান করে, সংজ্ঞা স্থির করে, রাজাকে এই উত্তর বললেন॥

Word by Word

• methāvī: the wise one
• methāvī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: methāvin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); ‘wise/intelligent one’

• tu: indeed
• tu: None (अकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) emphasis

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) (temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb ‘then’

• dhyātvā: having pondered
• dhyātvā: Kriyā (क्रिया) (prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhyai (ध्यै धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त) ‘having pondered’

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition to methāvī)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• kiñcit: a little (while)
• kiñcit: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) (temporal extent)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kiṃ + cit (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक + अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverbial accusative (अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोग) ‘for a little (while)’

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म) (object of abravīt: ‘this’ speech)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• uttaram: an answer
• uttaram: Karma (कर्म) (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); ‘answer/response’ (in apposition to idam)

• labdhasaṃjñaḥ: having recollected
• labdhasaṃjñaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: labdha + saṃjñā (प्रातिपदिके; PPP + noun)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); ‘having regained consciousness/recollection’ (qualifies saḥ)

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) (temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb ‘thereafter’

• tam: to him
• tam: Karma (कर्म) (object of speech: ‘to him’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• tu: indeed
• tu: None (अकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) emphasis

• vedajñaḥ: knower of the Vedas
• vedajñaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda + jña (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); ‘knower of the Vedas’ (qualifies saḥ)

• nṛpam: the king
• nṛpam: Karma (कर्म) (addressee/object of speech)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (ब्रू धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada — ‘said’

Context

Rsyasringa, a highly intellectual and knowledgeable one in the Vedas, pondered for a while, revived his memory and said to the king.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• R̥śyaśr̥ṅga (implied by context as the veda-jña methāvī)
• Veda

FAQs

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

Dharma values thoughtful speech: a teacher-counselor reflects, regains composure, and then offers a considered answer rather than impulsive words.

What is the narrative situation?

A learned sage (contextually R̥śyaśr̥ṅga) prepares to advise King Daśaratha, pausing to think before responding.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Wisdom expressed as deliberation (vicāra) and clarity in counsel.