Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 21

युद्धकाण्डे द्वादशः सर्गः — रावणस्य परिषद्-सम्बोधनं कुम्भकर्णस्य नीत्युपदेशश्च

Ravana’s Council Address and Kumbhakarna’s Counsel

Devanagari script

अथवाकपिनैकेनकृतंनःकदनंमहत् ।।6.12.21।।दुर् ज्ञेयाःकार्यगतयोब्रूतयस्ययथामति ।

Transliteration

athavā kapināikena kṛtaṃ naḥ kadanaṃ mahat |

durjñeyāḥ kāryagatayo brūta yasya yathāmati ||6.12.21||

Translation

Et pourtant, un seul singe nous a déjà infligé un grand carnage. Les voies de leurs actes sont difficiles à prévoir ; dites ce que vous pensez, chacun selon son propre discernement.

Word by Word

• अथ: then/now
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (particle, then/now)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (conjunction, or)

• कपिना: by a monkey
• कपिना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (करण) एकवचन (Instrumental singular)

• एकेन: by one (single)
• एकेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचन; विशेषण (Instrumental singular, adjective to कपिना)

• कृतम्: done; made
• कृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + कृत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोग (past participle: done/made)

• नः: of us/our
• नः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी बहुवचन (Genitive plural enclitic)

• कदनम्: slaughter; devastation
• कदनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Nom/Acc singular)

• महत्: great
• महत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; विशेषण (Nom/Acc singular, adjective to कदनम्)

• दुर्ज्ञेयाः: hard to know
• दुर्ज्ञेयाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + ज्ञा (धातु) + ज्ञेय (कृदन्त)
• Form: तव्यत्/अनीयर्-अर्थे कृदन्त (gerundive sense: to be known); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; विशेषण (Nom plural)

• कार्यगतयः: courses/ways of action
• कार्यगतयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य + गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कार्यस्य गतयः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन (Nom plural)

• ब्रूत: tell (you all)
• ब्रूत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थक/imperative); मध्यमपुरुष; बहुवचन; परस्मैपद (2nd person plural)

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी एकवचन (Genitive singular: whose/of whom)

• यथा: as; according to
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारार्थक (adverb: as/according to)

• मति: thought; opinion
• मति: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom singular)

Context

"How will the Vanaras and even both the sons of Dasaratha be able to cross the unassailable ocean inhabited by huge crocodiles?"

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān (implied by ‘single monkey’)
• Vānara

FAQs

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

It underscores accountability and foresight: actions have unpredictable consequences, and rulers should deliberate wisely—especially when opposing a dharmic cause.

What is the narrative situation?

Recalling the damage caused by one Vānara (Hanumān), Rāvaṇa invites counsel because the enemy’s capabilities and outcomes are uncertain.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Deliberation (mantra) and prudence—seeking advice rather than acting blindly, even though the speaker’s broader course remains adharma.