Shloka 23

सम्पातिवाक्यम्

Sampati’s Intelligence Report on Sita’s Abduction

Devanagari script

यत्तु शक्यं मया कर्तुं वाग्बुद्धिगुणवर्तिना।।।।श्रूयतां तत्प्रवक्ष्यामि भवतां पौरुषाश्रयम्।

Transliteration

yat tu śakyaṁ mayā kartuṁ vāg-buddhi-guṇa-vartinā | śrūyatāṁ tat pravakṣyāmi bhavatāṁ pauruṣāśrayam ||

Translation

Doch was ich vermag—da ich mit Rede, Verstand und Unterscheidungskraft begabt bin—das will ich euch darlegen. Hört es an, denn seine Vollendung hängt von eurer Tapferkeit ab.

Word by Word

• yat: whatever (that which)
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; relative pronoun (यत्)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; particle/conjunction (तु)

• śakyam: possible
• śakyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakya (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; शक् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; शक् (to be able) + यत् (potential/gerundive) = 'possible'

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; तृतीया (3), एकवचन; instrumental 'by me'

• kartum: to do
• kartum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त infinitive; 'to do/to accomplish'

• vāk-buddhi-guṇa-vartinā: by one endowed with the qualities of speech and intellect
• vāk-buddhi-guṇa-vartinā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक) + buddhi (प्रातिपदिक) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + vartin (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; vṛt धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष) 'वाक्-बुद्धि-गुणेषु वर्तते इति'; instrumental qualifying 'mayā'

• śrūyatām: let it be heard; please listen
• śrūyatām: Vidhi (विधि/आज्ञा)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; passive/impersonal sense: 'let it be heard'

• tat: that (it)
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• pravakṣyāmi: I will tell
• pravakṣyāmi: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + vac (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (simple future), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; 'I shall declare'

• bhavatām: of you (honoured ones)
• bhavatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (आदरार्थ), षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन; genitive 'of you'

• pauruṣa-āśrayam: (that) which rests on your prowess
• pauruṣa-āśrayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pauruṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + āśraya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः 'पौरुषम् आश्रयः यस्य/यत्र' = 'based on prowess'

Context

'Being endowed with the faculty of thinking and speech I shall tell you what is possible for you to execute with your prowess. Listen.

Characters & Entities

• Sampāti
• Jāmbavān (implied by address to the group)
• Vānaras (implied)

FAQs

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

Serving dharma according to one’s strength: if direct action is impossible, one should still contribute through counsel and truthful guidance.

What is the narrative situation?

Sampāti prepares to advise the vānaras, offering actionable information even though he cannot physically assist.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Practical wisdom and helpful speech—using intellect for the common good.