Shloka 4.56.17

सम्पातिदर्शनम् (Encounter with Sampāti) — Angada’s Lament and the Vulture-King’s Response

Devanagari script

तदसुखमनुकीर्तितं वचोभुवि पतितांश्च समीक्ष्य वानरान्।भृशचलितमतिर्महामतिःकृपणमुदाहृतवान् स गृध्रराट्।।।।

Transliteration

vidhiḥ kila naraṃ loke vidhānenānuvartate |

yathā'yaṃ vihito bhakṣyaś cirān mahyam upāgataḥ ||

Translation

“So it is said: in this world, destiny follows its own ordinance among men—else how would this long-appointed food have come to me after so long?”

Context

The wise king of vultures was shaken up mentally on seeing the monkeys lying on the ground and hearing the unhappy narration of Angada.ইত্যার্ষে শ্রীমদ্রামাযণে বাল্মীকীয আতিকাব্যে কিষ্কিন্ধাকাণ্ডে ষটপঞ্চাশস্সর্গঃ৷৷Thus ends the fiftysixth sarga in Kishkindakanda of the first epic, the Holy Ramayana composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Sampāti
• Vidhi (destiny)
• Vānara-s (as implied 'food')

FAQs

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

The verse raises the ethical problem of misreading ‘fate’ as moral permission. Dharma requires discernment (viveka): even if circumstances appear “ordained,” one must still judge actions by righteousness and compassion, not by convenience.

What is the narrative situation?

Sampāti, starving and seeing the vanaras resolved to die, interprets their presence as destiny bringing him food.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Indirectly, the need for discernment and restraint: the narrative invites reflection on how easily fate-talk can justify harmful intent.