Shloka 27

मैत्रीप्रतिज्ञा-वैरकारणप्रश्नः

Friendship Vow and Inquiry into the Cause of Enmity

Devanagari script

त्वं हि पाणिप्रदानेन वयस्यो मेऽग्निसाक्षिकम्।कृतः प्राणैर्बहुमतस्सत्येनापि शपामि ते।।

Transliteration

tvaṃ hi pāṇipradānena vayasyō me 'gnisākṣikam | kṛtaḥ prāṇair bahumataḥ satyenāpi śapāmi te ||

Translation

手を取り交わし、火を証人として、汝は我が友となった——命にも勝って尊い。真実そのものにかけて、我は汝に誓う。

Word by Word

• vayasya: friend
• vayasya: Sambodhana/Designation (संज्ञा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vayasya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1), Singular; used as quoted designation with iti

• iti: as/thus
• iti: Vākyāṅga (वाक्याङ्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle

• kṛtvā: having considered
• kṛtvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा)

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

• visrabdhaḥ: confident/at ease
• visrabdhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: visrabdha (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त) from √srambh/√śrambh (श्रम्भ्/स्रम्भ् ‘to trust/relax’) with vi-; Masculine, Nominative (1), Singular; agrees with aham

• pravadāmi: I speak
• pravadāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√vad (वद् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (present), Uttama-puruṣa (1st), Singular; parasmaipada

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (1), Singular

• duḥkham: sorrow
• duḥkham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2), Singular

• antargatam: hidden within
• antargatam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: antar + gata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त) from √gam (गम्) with antar-; Neuter, Accusative (2), Singular; agrees with duḥkham; tatpuruṣa: antaḥ gatam (gone within)

• yat: which
• yat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative pronoun, Neuter, Nominative (1), Singular; refers to duḥkham

• me: my
• me: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6), Singular (enclitic)

• manaḥ: mind
• manaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2), Singular

• harati: carries off/torments
• harati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √hṛ (हृ धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Singular; parasmaipada

• nityaśaḥ: always
• nityaśaḥ: Kāla/Prakāra (काल/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nityaśas (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

Context

'Rama I am overwhelmed with sorrow. You are the refuge of the distressed. As you are a friend I ventilate all my grief to you.

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• Rāma
• Agni (fire as witness)

FAQs

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

Dharma is upheld through satya-bound commitment: friendship is sanctified by witness (Agni) and maintained by truthful vows.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva formalizes the alliance, emphasizing the sacred nature of their bond and his pledge.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sugrīva’s fidelity and truthfulness in covenant-making.