Shloka 33

Devanagari script

जीवितान्तकरं घोरं सादृश्यात्तु विशङ्कितः।मूलघातो न नौ स्याद्धि द्वयोरपि कृतो मया4.12.33।।

Transliteration

jīvitānta-karaṁ ghoraṁ sādṛśyāt tu viśaṅkitaḥ |

mūla-ghāto na nau syād dhi dvayor api kṛto mayā || 4.12.33 ||

Translation

Devido a essa semelhança, fiquei ansioso: com um disparo terrível e fatal, eu poderia ter atingido a própria raiz da nossa causa — ferindo qualquer um de vós — e assim arruinado os interesses de ambos.

Word by Word

• jīvita-anta-karam: life-ending (deadly)
• jīvita-anta-karam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jīvita (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक) + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (उपपद/षष्ठीभावः: ‘जीवितस्य अन्तं करोति’), नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; (अध्याहृतं ‘कर्म’/‘कृत्यम्’) इति विशेषणम्

• ghoram: terrible
• ghoram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; पूर्वपदस्य सहविशेषणम्

• sādṛśyāt: from similarity/due to resemblance
• sādṛśyāt: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sādṛśya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वय-अव्ययम् (but/indeed)

• viśaṅkitaḥ: doubtful/suspicious
• viśaṅkitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; implied)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi + śaṅk (धातु) + ta (क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त, पुल्लिङ्गे, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; ‘अहम्’ (अध्याहृत) इति विशेषणम्

• mūla-ghātaḥ: a root-strike/fatal blow
• mūla-ghātaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūla (प्रातिपदिक) + ghāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (षष्ठी: ‘मूलस्य घातः’), पुल्लिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्ययम्

• nau: of us two
• nau: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive/6th), द्विवचनम् (dual)

• syāt: would be/might occur
• syāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकारः (Optative), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्

• hi: indeed/for
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतुसूचक/निश्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (indeed/for)

• dvayoḥ: of both (two)
• dvayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvi (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्याशब्दः, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, द्विवचनार्थे (genitive dual form)

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कार-अव्ययम् (also/even)

• kṛtaḥ: done/committed
• kṛtaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु) + ta (क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त (past passive participle), पुल्लिङ्गे, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; ‘मूलघातः’ इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Karta (कर्ता/Agent; with PPP)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

Context

'I was doubtful because of your similar appearance. I thought that I should not strike at the very root of the interests of both of us. Therefore, I did not release the terrific and deadly arrow.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sugrīva
• Vālī

FAQs

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

Dharma includes foresight: an act meant to help must not become a ‘root-strike’ that destroys the shared righteous objective through error.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma explains his fear that a mistaken shot could kill Sugrīva and thereby sabotage their alliance and purpose.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Strategic wisdom—protecting the long-term good over impulsive action.