Shloka 24

मैत्रीप्रतिज्ञा-वैरकारणप्रश्नः

Friendship Vow and Inquiry into the Cause of Enmity

Devanagari script

भ्रातृसंज्ञममित्रं ते वालिनं कृतकिल्बिषम्।शरैर्विनिहतं पश्य विकीर्णमिव पर्वतम्।।

Transliteration

bhrātṛ-saṃjñam amitraṃ te vālinam kṛta-kilbiṣam | śarair vinihataṃ paśya vikīrṇam iva parvatam ||

Translation

Vois Vāli—portant le nom de « frère » et pourtant ton ennemi, souillé par la faute—terrassé par mes flèches, disloqué tel une montagne brisée.

Word by Word

• rāghavasya: of Rāghava (Rāma)
• rāghavasya: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6), Singular

• vacaḥ: words
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2), Singular

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), ‘having heard’

• sugrīvaḥ: Sugrīva
• sugrīvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sugrīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1), Singular

• vāhinī-patiḥ: commander of the army
• vāhinī-patiḥ: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāhinī + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1), Singular; tatpuruṣa: vāhinīyāḥ patiḥ (lord of the army)

• praharṣam: joy
• praharṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: praharṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2), Singular

• atulam: immeasurable
• atulam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: atula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2), Singular; agrees with praharṣam

• lebhe: attained
• lebhe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √labh (लभ् धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्/perfect), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Singular; ātmanepada

• sādhu: well done
• sādhu: Vākyāṅga (वाक्याङ्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sādhu (अव्यय/शब्द)
• Form: Interjection/approval particle (उद्गार/निपात)

• sādhu: well done
• sādhu: Vākyāṅga (वाक्याङ्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sādhu (अव्यय/शब्द)
• Form: Repetition for emphasis (पुनरुक्ति)

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyāṅga (वाक्याङ्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-प्रयोग)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (ब्रू धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (लुङ्/aorist), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Singular; parasmaipada

Context

'Here are my highspeed, winged arrows glowing like fierce fire, born out of Kartikeya's bed of reeds.They are smooth and welljointed, decked with gold, comparable in strength to great Indra's thunderbolt, very sharp with pointed tips looking like angry serpents.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sugrīva
• Vāli

FAQs

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

Dharma judges by actions, not labels: one may be ‘brother’ in name, yet an enemy by unjust deeds; wrongdoing warrants correction.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma intensifies his assurance by describing Vāli’s impending defeat through his arrows.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s unwavering resolve to uphold justice and protect the wronged ally.