Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 28, Shloka 16

अस्त्रग्रहणं संहारोपदेशश्च

Receiving the Astras and Instruction on Withdrawal

Devanagari script

स च तान् राघवो ज्ञात्वा विश्वामित्रं महामुनिम्।गच्छन्नेवाथ मधुरं श्लक्ष्णं वचनमब्रवीत्।।1.28.16।।

Transliteration

sa ca tān rāghavo jñātvā viśvāmitraṁ mahāmunim |

gacchann evātha madhuraṁ ślakṣṇaṁ vacanam abravīt || 1.28.16 ||

Translation

Et Rāghava, ayant pleinement compris ces armes, tout en poursuivant sa marche, adressa au grand muni Viśvāmitra des paroles douces et raffinées.

Word by Word

• सः: he (Rāghava)
• सः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तान्: those (weapons/mantras)
• तान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural); सर्वनाम

• राघवः: Rāghava (Rāma)
• राघवः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• ज्ञात्वा: having known/learned
• ज्ञात्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial to main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-क्रियाविशेषण (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकाल (prior action)

• विश्वामित्रम्: Viśvāmitra
• विश्वामित्रम्: सम्प्रदान/सम्बोधन-लक्ष्य (addressee as object of speech)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वामित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• महामुनिम्: the great sage
• महामुनिम्: विशेष्य-सम्बन्ध (apposition to Viśvāmitra)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामुनि (प्रातिपदिक: महा + मुनि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय-समास (great sage)

• गच्छन्: while going/walking
• गच्छन्: क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्रियासहचर (concomitant action)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: अवधारण (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• अथ: then
• अथ: काल-सम्बन्ध (temporal connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तर-अव्यय (then/thereafter)

• मधुरम्: sweet/gentle
• मधुरम्: विशेषण (qualifier of vacanam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• श्लक्ष्णम्: soft/pleasant
• श्लक्ष्णम्: विशेषण (qualifier of vacanam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्लक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• वचनम्: words/speech
• वचनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said/spoke
• अब्रवीत्: क्रिया (main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद; प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

Context

After having acquired the knowledge of the weapons Rama addressed maharshi Viswamitra in gentle and soft words while walking along with him.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Rāghava)
• Viśvāmitra

FAQs

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

Dharma is respectful communication, especially toward one’s teacher: knowledge and power are to be accompanied by humility and refined speech.

What is the narrative situation?

After mastering the astra-knowledge, Rāma continues the journey and addresses Viśvāmitra with courteous words, transitioning from the empowerment scene back to travel and inquiry.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vinaya (modesty) and guru-bhakti: Rāma’s gentle, polished speech reflects disciplined character rather than pride after gaining extraordinary power.