Shloka 20

Devanagari script

एवमुक्तस्तु तेजस्वी धर्मज्ञो धर्मवत्सलः।प्रत्युवाच स काकुत्स्थस्सुग्रीवं प्रहसन्निव।।

Transliteration

evam uktas tu tejasvī dharmajño dharmavatsalaḥ | pratyuvāca sa kākutsthaḥ sugrīvaṃ prahasann iva ||

Translation

Así interpelado, el radiante Rāma, conocedor y amante del dharma, respondió a Sugrīva con una sonrisa suave, como para infundirle confianza.

Word by Word

• उपकारफलम्: the fruit of help
• उपकारफलम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Predicate qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपकार-फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: उपकारस्य फलम् (fruit/result of help)

• मित्रम्: a friend
• मित्रम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject in equational sentence)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative)

• अपकारः: harm
• अपकारः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject in equational sentence)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अरिलक्षणम्: a sign of an enemy
• अरिलक्षणम्: Pratijñā (प्रतिज्ञा/Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरी-लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: अरेः लक्षणम् (mark of an enemy)

• अद्य: today
• अद्य: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (today)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis: 'indeed/just')

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• हनिष्यामि: I will kill
• हनिष्यामि: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• भार्यापहारिणम्: the abductor of (your) wife
• भार्यापहारिणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भार्या-अपहारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: भार्यायाः अपहारी (wife-stealer)

Context

Thus spoken to, the glorious Rama, lover of righteousness who knew his duty, replied to Sugriva with a smile on his face:

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sugrīva

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown as compassionate steadiness: Rāma responds as one devoted to righteousness, offering calm reassurance rather than harshness.

What is the narrative situation?

After Sugrīva speaks, Rāma begins his reply, signaling confidence and goodwill as the alliance is being affirmed.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s dharma-centered conduct—self-control, kindness, and reliability in speech.