Shloka 28

द्वादशः सर्गः — Rama’s Proof of Power, the First Duel, and the Identification Mark

Kishkindha Kanda, Sarga 12

Devanagari script

तस्य चैवं ब्रुवाणस्य सुग्रीवस्य महात्मनः।करुणं दीनया वाचा राघवः पुनरब्रवीत्4.12.28।।

Transliteration

tasya caivaṁ bruvāṇasya sugrīvasya mahātmanaḥ |

karuṇaṁ dīnayā vācā rāghavaḥ punar abravīt || 4.12.28 ||

Translation

Tandis que le magnanime Sugrīva parlait ainsi d’une voix plaintive et humble, Rāghava (Rāma) répondit de nouveau, plein de compassion.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; genitive = of him (Sugriva)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (manner adverb) = thus/in that way

• ब्रुवाणस्य: while (he) was speaking
• ब्रुवाणस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive absolute-like)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: शानच् (present middle participle), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; ‘while speaking’ (of Sugriva)

• सुग्रीवस्य: of Sugriva
• सुग्रीवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुग्रीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; genitive = of Sugriva

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled
• महात्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; adjective in genitive qualifying ‘सुग्रीवस्य’ = of the great-souled

• करुणम्: compassionately
• करुणम्: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: करुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; used adverbially = compassionately

• दीनया: piteous
• दीनया: Karana-anvaya (करणविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; qualifies ‘वाचा’ = with a piteous

• वाचा: with speech
• वाचा: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; instrumental = with words/speech

• राघवः: Raghava (Rama)
• राघवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; subject

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरावृत्तिवाचक अव्यय (adverb) = again

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘said’

Context

On hearing the great Sugriva's miserable and moving words, Rama again said:

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• Rāghava (Rāma)

FAQs

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

Compassion (dayā/karuṇā) is presented as a dharmic response to another’s suffering; Rāma answers not with anger but with empathy.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva has spoken in distress; the narration pivots to Rāma’s reply.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s compassion and restraint in speech—responding gently to a troubled ally.