Shloka 4.60.21

सम्पातिवृत्तान्तः — Sampāti’s Account and the Sage Niśākara

Devanagari script

किं ते व्याधिसमुत्थानं पक्षयोः पतनं कथम्।दण्डोऽयंच कृतः केन सर्वमाख्याहि पृच्छतः।।4.60.21।।

Transliteration

kiṃ te vyādhisamutthānaṃ pakṣayoḥ patanaṃ katham | daṇḍo 'yaṃ ca kṛtaḥ kena sarvam ākhyāhi pṛcchataḥ || 4.60.21 ||

Translation

What illness has come upon you? How did the falling of your wings occur? By whom was this punishment inflicted? Tell me everything, as I ask.

Context

'What disease has affected you? Why are your wings dropped down? Who punished you in this way? Tell me.'ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē kiṣkindhākāṇḍē ṣaṣṭitamassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the sixtieth sarga in Kishkindakanda of the first epic, the Holy Ramayana composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Sampāti

FAQs

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

Dharma values truthful inquiry and accountability: suffering and ‘daṇḍa’ (punishment/consequence) are to be understood through honest narration rather than rumor.

What is the narrative situation?

The vānaras question Sampāti about his crippled state—his drooping wings and the cause behind it—so they can understand who he is and what happened to him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Truth-seeking (satya-anveṣaṇa) through direct, respectful questioning, aiming to learn the real cause behind visible suffering.