Shloka 12

सम्पातिवाक्यम्

Sampāti’s Counsel and the Revelation of Laṅkā

Devanagari script

निर्दग्धपक्षो गृध्रोऽहं हीनवीर्य: प्लवङ्गमाः।वाङ्मात्रेण तु रामस्य करिष्ये साह्यमुत्तमम्।।4.58.12।।

Transliteration

nirdagdhapakṣo gṛdhro ’haṃ hīnavīryaḥ plavaṅgamāḥ |

vāṅmātreṇa tu rāmasya kariṣye sāhyam uttamam || 4.58.12 ||

Translation

O Plavaṅgamas, ich bin ein Geier mit versengten Flügeln und geschwächter Kraft; doch für Rāma werde ich die beste Hilfe leisten, die ich vermag—wenn auch nur durch Worte.

Word by Word

• निर्दग्धपक्षः: with burnt wings
• निर्दग्धपक्षः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्दग्ध + पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘निर्दग्धाः पक्षाः यस्य’ (as adj)

• गृध्रः: vulture
• गृध्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृध्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुष सर्वनाम; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हीनवीर्यः: of diminished strength
• हीनवीर्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हीन + वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘हीनं वीर्यं यस्य’

• प्लवङ्गमाः: O monkeys
• प्लवङ्गमाः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्लवङ्गम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), बहुवचन

• वाक्-मात्रेण: by mere words
• वाक्-मात्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक् + मात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘वाचः मात्रा’ = mere words

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Discourse (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (contrast/emphasis)

• रामस्य: for Rama
• रामस्य: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• करिष्ये: I will do
• करिष्ये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), आत्मनेपद; उत्तम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• साह्यम्: help
• साह्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of साह्यम्)

Context

'I know Varuna's worlds(seas and oceans) and all the three worlds measured by three strides by Vamana. Indeed I also know about the friction between the great gods and demons and the churning of the ocean for nectar.

Characters & Entities

• Sampāti
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma as service according to capacity: even when physically impaired, one should contribute truthfully and usefully (here, guidance through speech).

What is the narrative situation?

Sampāti, unable to fly, offers the monkeys strategic help by sharing what he knows verbally.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Selfless assistance (seva) joined with realism: he does not exaggerate ability, but still commits to meaningful help.