Shloka 13

पम्पा-ऋष्यमूक-मार्गोपदेशः

Guidance to Pampa and Rishyamuka; counsel to befriend Sugriva

Devanagari script

नोद्विजन्ते नरान्दृष्ट्वा वधस्याकोविदाश्शुभाः।।3.73.13।।घृतपिण्डोपमान् स्थूलांस्तान्द्विजान्भक्षयिष्यथः।

Transliteration

nodvijante narān dṛṣṭvā vadhasyākovidāḥ śubhāḥ |

ghṛtapiṇḍopamān sthūlāṃs tān dvijān bhakṣayiṣyathaḥ || 3.73.13 ||

Translation

Ao verem os homens, essas aves inofensivas, alheias à morte, não se assustam; e vós dois podereis apanhá-las e comê-las, tão gordas como pedaços de ghee.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation)

• उद्विजन्ते: are frightened
• उद्विजन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-विज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• नरान्: men/humans
• नरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (Gerund); ‘having seen’

• वधस्य: of killing
• वधस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अकोविदाः: unaware (of being killed)
• अकोविदाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-कोविद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; नञ्-युक्त विशेषण (not knowing/unskilled)

• शुभाः: fine/beautiful
• शुभाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• घृतपिण्डोपमान्: like balls of ghee
• घृतपिण्डोपमान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घृत-पिण्ड-उपमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण — घृतपिण्डस्य उपमानाः (like balls of ghee)

• स्थूलान्: fat/large
• स्थूलान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• तान्: those
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• द्विजान्: birds
• द्विजान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• भक्षयिष्यथः: you two will eat
• भक्षयिष्यथः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), मध्यमपुरुष, द्विवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

Not knowing that they may be killed, the innocent creatures will not be scared of human beings. Both of you can kill and eat the fat birds comparable to balls of ghee.

Characters & Entities

• Kabandha
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Pampā
• dvija (birds)

FAQs

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

Dharma here reflects the pragmatic ethics of forest-dwelling: taking food as needed for sustaining a righteous mission, without indulgence—survival in hardship is integrated into duty.

What is the narrative situation?

Kabandha describes the ease of obtaining food near Pampā, anticipating the brothers’ continued travel and exertion in the search for Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moderation and purposefulness: nourishment is presented as a means to continue dharmic action, not as an end in itself.