Shloka 38

मैत्रीप्रतिज्ञा-वैरकारणप्रश्नः

Friendship Vow and Inquiry into the Cause of Enmity

Devanagari script

सङ्क्षेपस्त्वेष मे राम किमुक्त्वा विस्तरं हि ते।स मे ज्येष्ठो रिपुर्भ्राता वाली विश्रुतपौरुषः।।

Transliteration

saṅkṣepas tv eṣa me rāma kim uktvā vistaraṃ hi te | sa me jyeṣṭho ripur bhrātā vālī viśrutapauruṣaḥ ||

Translation

Éste es mi relato en breve, oh Rāma; ¿para qué extenderme? Vāli, mi hermano mayor, célebre por su valor, se ha vuelto mi enemigo.

Word by Word

• सङ्क्षेपः: brief account
• सङ्क्षेपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सङ्क्षेप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा (Nominative Singular)

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle)

• एषः: this
• एषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा (Nominative Singular)

• मे: my
• मे: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, एकवचन, षष्ठी (Genitive Singular)

• राम: O Rama
• राम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, सम्बोधन (Vocative Singular)

• किम्: why
• किम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नवाचक-अव्यय (interrogative particle: why/what)

• उक्त्वा: having told
• उक्त्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having said/told’

• विस्तरम्: in detail
• विस्तरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विस्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (Accusative Singular)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle)

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, एकवचन, चतुर्थी (Dative Singular)

• सः: he/that (one)
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा (Nominative Singular)

• मे: my
• मे: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, एकवचन, षष्ठी (Genitive Singular)

• ज्येष्ठः: elder
• ज्येष्ठः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्येष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा (Nominative Singular)

• रिपुः: enemy
• रिपुः: Samana-adhikarana (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रिपु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा (Nominative Singular)

• भ्राता: brother
• भ्राता: Samana-adhikarana (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा (Nominative Singular)

• वाली: Vali
• वाली: Samana-adhikarana (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा (Nominative Singular)

• विश्रुतपौरुषः: of renowned prowess
• विश्रुतपौरुषः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्रुत (श्रु धातु + क्त) + पौरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (whose prowess is renowned); पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा (Nominative Singular)

Context

'O Rama! I tell you (my story) briefly. It is not necessary to go into details. My elder brother Vali, who is known for his prowess, is my enemy.

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• Rāma
• Vāli

FAQs

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

The verse underscores the tragedy of adharma within kinship: when an elder brother becomes an enemy, dharma requires truthful disclosure and righteous intervention to restore order.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva summarizes the central problem for which he seeks Rāma’s help: his powerful elder brother Vāli has turned hostile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sugrīva’s straightforwardness and focus—he states the essential truth without embellishment.