Shloka 17

सम्पातिवाक्यम्

Sampāti’s Counsel and the Revelation of Laṅkā

Devanagari script

सूर्यप्रभेव शैलाग्रे तस्याः कौशेयमुत्तमम्।असिते राक्षसे भाति यथा वा तटिदम्बुदे।।4.58.17।।

Transliteration

sūryaprabheva śailāgre tasyāḥ kauśeyam uttamam |

asite rākṣase bhāti yathā vā taṭid ambude || 4.58.17 ||

Translation

Son vêtement de soie, d’une beauté suprême, resplendissait—tel le soleil sur un sommet—éclatant sur le rākṣasa sombre, comme l’éclair dans le nuage.

Word by Word

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तु: indeed
• तु: Discourse (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (contrast/emphasis)

• सीताम्: Sita
• सीताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मन्ये: think
• मन्ये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, आत्मनेपद; उत्तम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• रामस्य: of Rama
• रामस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• परिकीर्तनात्: from the repeated utterance
• परिकीर्तनात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परि + कीर्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थ (cause): ‘from (her) uttering’

• श्रूयताम्: let (it) be heard / please listen
• श्रूयताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), आत्मनेपद; प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आज्ञार्थे ‘let it be heard’

• मे: by me / my
• मे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-एकवचन (Genitive/Dative singular) एन्क्लिटिक; ‘of me/to me’

• कथयतः: as I describe
• कथयतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथय् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (Present active participle/शतृ) ‘कथयत्’; षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘of me who am telling’

• निलयम्: abode
• निलयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तस्य: of that (one)/his
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• रक्षसः: of the demon
• रक्षसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

Context

'Since she was uttering Rama's name I think she is Sita. (Now) I will tell you about the demon's abode. Listen!

Characters & Entities

• Sītā (implied)
• Rāvaṇa (implied as the dark rākṣasa)

FAQs

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

Symbolic dharma: purity and righteousness are portrayed as luminous, standing in stark contrast to adharma (darkness) even when oppressed.

What is the narrative situation?

Sampāti describes the visual scene of the abducted woman’s bright garment against the dark abductor.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral radiance: Sītā’s inherent purity is suggested through imagery of light.