Shloka 9

Devanagari script

सा त्वं धर्मपरा नित्यं दृष्टलोक परावरा।नार्हसे विप्रियं वक्तुं दुखिःताऽपि सुदुःखितम्।।।।

Transliteration

sā tvaṃ dharmaparā nityaṃ dṛṣṭaloka-parāvarā |

nārhase vipriyaṃ vaktuṃ duḥkhitā ’pi suduḥkhitam ||

Translation

Du bist stets dem Dharma ergeben und hast die Höhen und Tiefen der Welt gesehen; darum ziemt es dir, auch in eigener Trauer, nicht hart zu sprechen zu dem, den Kummer noch mehr zermalmt.

Word by Word

• सा: she/that (you)
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; Pronoun, nominative singular feminine

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Pronoun, nominative singular

• धर्मपरा: devoted to dharma
• धर्मपरा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (धर्मे परा), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; Nominative singular feminine

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोग (adverbial accusative), अव्ययवत्; Adverb: always

• दृष्टलोकपरावरा: one who has seen/known the higher and lower (ends) of the world
• दृष्टलोकपरावरा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृष्ट + लोक + पर + अवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (यया लोकस्य परावरौ दृष्टौ), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; Nominative singular feminine

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• अर्हसे: you ought/it befits you
• अर्हसे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; Present 2nd sg (you ought)

• विप्रियम्: unpleasant (word/thing)
• विप्रियम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; Accusative singular neuter

• वक्तुम्: to speak
• वक्तुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्यय (infinitive), अव्यय; Infinitive (to speak)

• दुःखिता: grieved
• दुःखिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःखित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; Nominative singular feminine

• अपि: even though
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (concessive: even/although)

• सुदुःखितम्: very painful/very grievous (speech)
• सुदुःखितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + दुःखित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; Accusative singular neuter (intensified: very grieved)

Context

You always adhere to righteousness. You have seen both the extremes (good and bad) of this world. Athough you yourself are in grief it does not behove you to speak unpleasant words to one who is suffering from a greater grief.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Kausalyā

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed as vāg-dharma (ethical speech): even justified anger should not become cruel speech, especially toward someone already suffering.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha anticipates or responds to Kausalyā’s painful reproach and asks her to restrain harsh words, citing her lifelong dharmic disposition.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-restraint and compassion in speech—responding to grief with measured words rather than further injury.