Shloka 16
सम्पातिवाक्यम्
Sampati’s Intelligence Report on Sita’s Abduction
न हि सामोपपन्नानां प्रहर्ता विद्यते क्वचित्।नीचेष्वपि जनः कश्चित्किमङ्ग बत मद्विधः।।।।
na hi sāmopapannānāṁ prahartā vidyate kvacit | nīceṣv api janaḥ kaścit kim aṅga bata mad-vidhaḥ ||
Car envers ceux qui sont courtois et paisibles, nulle part on ne trouve quelqu’un pour les frapper ; même parmi les gens bas, à peine en est-il qui agisse ainsi — combien moins quelqu’un comme moi !
'Who will strike polite people? Even the mean do not do it anywhere. And what to speak of me.
FAQs
Dharma here is restraint and non-violence: a civilized person does not repay courtesy with harm, and one should not strike the unthreatening.
Sampāti is explaining his own moral stance while recounting past events connected to Sītā’s abduction and his delayed arrival.
Self-restraint (saṁyama) and civility—refusing to harm those who behave politely.