Shloka 9

सम्पातिवाक्यम्

Sampati’s Intelligence Report on Sita’s Abduction

Devanagari script

तीक्ष्णकामास्तु गन्धर्वास्तीक्ष्णकोपा भुजङ्गमाः।मृगाणां तु भयं तीक्ष्णं ततस्तीक्ष्णक्षुधा वयम्।।।।

Transliteration

tīkṣṇakāmās tu gandharvās tīkṣṇakopā bhujaṅgamāḥ |

mṛgāṇāṃ tu bhayaṃ tīkṣṇaṃ tatas tīkṣṇakṣudhā vayam ||

Translation

Gandharvas werden von heftiger Begierde getrieben; Schlangen von heftigem Zorn. Die Hirsche leben in schneidender Furcht—und wir, die Geier, werden von schneidendem Hunger getrieben.

Word by Word

• tīkṣṇa-kāmāḥ: having intense desire
• tīkṣṇa-kāmāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject, qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tīkṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) ‘sharp/intense in desire’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with gandharvāḥ

• tu: but; indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle (विरोध/contrast or emphasis)

• gandharvāḥ: Gandharvas
• gandharvāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandharva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tīkṣṇa-kopāḥ: having fierce anger
• tīkṣṇa-kopāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject, qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tīkṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + kopa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) ‘intense in anger’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with bhujaṅgamāḥ

• bhujaṅgamāḥ: serpents
• bhujaṅgamāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhujaṅgama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• mṛgāṇām: of deer
• mṛgāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛga (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tu: but; indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle

• bhayam: fear
• bhayam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• tīkṣṇam: intense
• tīkṣṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tīkṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with bhayam

• tataḥ: therefore; then
• tataḥ: Hetu/Kārya-sambandha (हेतु/Result marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (ततः = therefore/then)

• tīkṣṇa-kṣudhāḥ: having intense hunger
• tīkṣṇa-kṣudhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject, qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tīkṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + kṣudhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) ‘having sharp/intense hunger’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with vayam

• vayam: we
• vayam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

Context

'Gandharvas have intense passion. Serpents show violent anger. Deer have great fear. And we vultures have great hunger.

Characters & Entities

• Gandharva
• mṛga (deer)
• vultures (gṛdhra implied by 'vayam')

FAQs

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

It highlights how different beings are dominated by powerful impulses (desire, anger, fear, hunger). The dharmic lesson is to recognize such drives and not let them override righteous conduct and truthful judgment.

What is the narrative situation?

The verse is framed as an observation about natural temperaments—contrasting celestial beings, animals, and vultures—implying how instinct can shape behavior (exact scene needs surrounding verses).

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discernment and self-restraint: understanding the force of impulses is the first step toward governing them in line with dharma.