Shloka 31

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

Kishkindha Kanda, Sarga 12

Devanagari script

स्वरेण वर्चसा चैव प्रेक्षितेन च वानर।विक्रमेण च वाक्यैश्च व्यक्तिं वां नोपलक्षये4.12.31।।

Transliteration

svareṇa varcasā caiva prekṣitena ca vānara |

vikrameṇa ca vākyaiś ca vyaktiṁ vāṁ nopalakṣaye || 4.12.31 ||

Translation

Ô singe, par la voix, l'éclat, le regard, la prouesse et le langage, je ne peux discerner aucune distinction claire entre vous deux.

Word by Word

• स्वरेण: by voice
• स्वरेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; instrumental = by voice

• वर्चसा: by splendour
• वर्चसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्चस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; instrumental = by splendour

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

• एव: indeed, also
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण/निपात

• प्रेक्षितेन: by looks
• प्रेक्षितेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेक्षित (कृदन्त; प्र + √ईक्ष् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त used as noun = by look/appearance

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

• वानर: O monkey
• वानर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; address to Sugriva

• विक्रमेण: by valour
• विक्रमेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; instrumental = by valour

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

• वाक्यैः: by words
• वाक्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; instrumental = by words/speech

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

• व्यक्तिम्: distinction, difference
• व्यक्तिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; object of ‘upalakṣaye’ = distinction

• वाम्: between you two
• वाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक; द्विवचन-षष्ठी/द्वितीया)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th) द्विवचन (genitive dual) = of you two/between you two; used with ‘व्यक्तिम्’

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध

• उपलक्षये: I perceive
• उपलक्षये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + √लक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘I perceive/recognize’

Context

'O monkey! in your voice, in brightness, in looks, in valour or in words I have marked no difference between you.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sugrīva
• Vālī

FAQs

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

Dharma demands clarity before punishment; when certainty is lacking, restraint is ethically superior to irreversible harm.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma continues explaining the practical difficulty of distinguishing Sugrīva from Vālī during the fight.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Conscientiousness—Rāma refuses to act blindly even under pressure.