Shloka 23

Devanagari script

शोकार्तानामनाथानामेवं विपरिधावताम्।।3.71.23।।कारुण्यं सदृशं कर्तुमुपकारे च वर्तताम्।

Transliteration

śokārtānām anāthānām evaṃ viparidhāvatām | kāruṇyaṃ sadṛśaṃ kartum upakāre ca vartatām ||

Translation

Para quienes, heridos por el dolor, sin amparo, corren así en desconcierto, es propio mostrar compasión y obrar en servicio benéfico.

Word by Word

• śoka-ārtānām: of those afflicted by sorrow
• śoka-ārtānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śoka (प्रातिपदिक) + ārta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग) Genitive 6th (षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• anāthānām: of the helpless
• anāthānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anātha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive 6th (षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, manner adverb (प्रकारवाचक)

• viparidhāvatām: of those running about in confusion
• viparidhāvatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-pari-dhāv (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ) used substantively; Genitive 6th (षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन) (common gender)

• kāruṇyam: compassion
• kāruṇyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāruṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative 2nd (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• sadṛśam: fitting; appropriate
• sadṛśam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sadṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative 2nd (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies kāruṇyam

• kartum: to do; to show
• kartum: Kriyārtha (क्रियार्थ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्)

• upakāre: in helping; in assistance
• upakāre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upakāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative 7th (सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction (समुच्चय)

• vartatām: let them engage; let them act
• vartatām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛt (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

Context

Creatures like you may help those who, like orphans, run here and there, stricken with sorrow.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Danu
• Lakshmana

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed as compassion-in-action: those capable should aid the grief-stricken and unprotected, turning empathy into concrete assistance.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma appeals for help in his distressed condition, framing assistance as the appropriate response to sufferers who lack refuge.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Karunā (compassion) and upakāra (beneficent help) as active virtues rather than mere sentiment.