Shloka 28

मैत्रीप्रतिज्ञा-वैरकारणप्रश्नः

Friendship Vow and Inquiry into the Cause of Enmity

Devanagari script

वयस्य इति कृत्वा च विस्रब्धः प्रवदाम्यहम्।दुःखमन्तर्गतं यन्मे मनो हरति नित्यशः4.8.28।।

Transliteration

vayasya iti kṛtvā ca visrabdhaḥ pravadāmy aham | duḥkham antargataṃ yan me mano harati nityaśaḥ ||

Translation

友と仰ぐゆえ、我は安んじて語る。内に秘めた悲しみが、常に我が心を責め苛むのだ。

Word by Word

• etāvat: this much
• etāvat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etāvat (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2), Singular; used adverbially with uktvā = ‘this much’

• uktvā: having said
• uktvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा) from √vac (उक्त्वा = having said)

• vacanam: speech/words
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2), Singular

• bāṣpa-dūṣita-locanaḥ: whose eyes were blurred by tears
• bāṣpa-dūṣita-locanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bāṣpa + dūṣita + locana (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1), Singular; tatpuruṣa chain: bāṣpeṇa dūṣitaṃ locanam yasya (eyes blurred by tears)

• bāṣpa-upahatayā: with (a voice) choked by tears
• bāṣpa-upahatayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bāṣpa + upahata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3), Singular; agrees with vācā; tatpuruṣa: bāṣpeṇa upahatā (choked/struck by tears)

• vācā: with voice
• vācā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3), Singular

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध)

• uccaiḥ: loudly
• uccaiḥ: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: uccais (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• śaknoti: is able
• śaknoti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śak (शक् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Singular; parasmaipada

• bhāṣitum: to speak
• bhāṣitum: Prayojana/Anukūla (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhāṣ (भाष् धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), ‘to speak’

Context

'I value your hand of friendship extended to me, with fire as witness more than my very life. I, on my own, offer my pledge of friendship.

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma in friendship includes honest disclosure: trust permits truthful speech about suffering so that right action can follow.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva prepares to narrate his deeper pain and the causes behind his plight, relying on Rāma’s friendship.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sugrīva’s openness and reliance on a righteous ally rather than secrecy or deceit.