Shloka 4.59.16

सम्पातिवाक्यम् (Sampati’s Intelligence Report on Sita’s Abduction)

Devanagari script

न हि सामोपपन्नानां प्रहर्ता विद्यते क्वचित्।नीचेष्वपि जनः कश्चित्किमङ्ग बत मद्विधः।।।।

Transliteration

na hi sāmopapannānāṁ prahartā vidyate kvacit | nīceṣv api janaḥ kaścit kim aṅga bata mad-vidhaḥ ||

Translation

For those who are courteous and peaceable, there is nowhere anyone who would strike them; even among the low, scarcely anyone does such a thing—how much less someone like me.

Context

'Who will strike polite people? Even the mean do not do it anywhere. And what to speak of me.

Characters & Entities

• Sampāti

FAQs

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

Dharma here is restraint and non-violence: a civilized person does not repay courtesy with harm, and one should not strike the unthreatening.

What is the narrative situation?

Sampāti is explaining his own moral stance while recounting past events connected to Sītā’s abduction and his delayed arrival.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-restraint (saṁyama) and civility—refusing to harm those who behave politely.