Shloka 22

सम्पातिवाक्यम्

Sampati’s Intelligence Report on Sita’s Abduction

Devanagari script

तच्छृत्वाऽपि हि मे बुद्धिर्नासीत्काचित्पराक्रमे।।।।अपक्षो हि कथं पक्षी कर्म किञ्चिदुपक्रमे।

Transliteration

tac chrutvā 'pi hi me buddhir nāsīt kācit parākrame | apakṣo hi kathaṁ pakṣī karma kiṁcid upakrame ||

Translation

Aun después de oírlo, no surgió en mí resolución alguna para avanzar; pues ¿cómo puede un ave sin alas emprender siquiera la más mínima acción?

Word by Word

• यत्: that which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative)

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात (but/indeed)

• शक्यम्: possible
• शक्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्य (शक् धातु + यत्)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (potential/fit); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of यत्)

• मया: by me
• मया: Kartr-karana (कर्तृ/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया, एकवचन

• कर्तुम्: to do
• कर्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (infinitive), ‘to do’

• वाक्-बुद्धि-गुण-वर्तिना: endowed with speech and intellect
• वाक्-बुद्धि-गुण-वर्तिना: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाक् (प्रातिपदिक) + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्तिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of मया); ‘endowed with the qualities of speech and intellect’

• श्रूयताम्: please listen
• श्रूयताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive sense): ‘let it be heard / please listen’

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; निर्देश (that)

• प्रवक्ष्यामि: I will tell
• प्रवक्ष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भवताम्: of you (hon.)
• भवताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; आदरार्थ बहुवचन (honorific)

• पौरुष-आश्रयम्: relying on your prowess
• पौरुष-आश्रयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौरुष (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘depending on your prowess’ (object/complement of telling)

Context

'Even after hearing this I could not advance (against Ravana). How could I, a vulturewithout wings, leap even a little?

Characters & Entities

• Sampāti

FAQs

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

Dharma includes honest assessment of capacity: one should not make rash vows beyond one’s ability, but seek the right means to serve the good.

What is the narrative situation?

Sampāti admits he could not pursue or oppose Rāvaṇa due to being wingless, explaining his limitation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility and truthfulness about one’s constraints, avoiding empty heroics.