Shloka 1.2.28

द्वितीयः सर्गः — श्लोकप्रादुर्भावः (The Manifestation of the Śloka)

Devanagari script

पापात्मना कृतं कष्टं वैरग्रहणबुद्धिना ।यस्तादृशं चारुरवं क्रौञ्चं हन्यादकारणात् ।।1.2.28।।

Transliteration

pāpātmanā kṛtaṃ kaṣṭaṃ vairagrahaṇabuddhinā | yas tādṛśaṃ cāruravaṃ krauñcaṃ hanyād akāraṇāt ||1.2.28||

Translation

“A grievous wrong has been done by a sinful-minded man, bent on capture through hostility—who would, without cause, kill such a krauñca bird of so sweet a call?”

Context

The hunter killed the sweet-voiced krauncha without any cause. That sinful-minded one with hostile feeling of capturing it, had perpetrated this cruel act, he thought.

Characters & Entities

• Vālmīki
• krauñca (bird)
• hunter (unnamed)

FAQs

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

Needless violence is adharma: killing without cause—especially of a harmless, beautiful creature—is condemned as a sinful act opposed to compassion and truth-sensitive conscience.

What is the narrative situation?

Vālmīki mentally revisits the riverbank tragedy and morally condemns the hunter’s act.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vālmīki’s compassion and ethical clarity—his heart responds to suffering with principled judgment.