Shloka 1

सम्पातिवाक्यम्

Sampāti’s Counsel and the Revelation of Laṅkā

Devanagari script

इत्युक्तः करुणं वाक्यं वानरैस्त्यक्तजीवितैः।सबाष्पो वानरान्गृध्रः प्रत्युवाच महास्वनः।।4.58.1।।

Transliteration

ity uktaḥ karuṇaṃ vākyaṃ vānaraīs tyakta-jīvitaiḥ | sa-bāṣpo vānārān gṛdhraḥ pratyuvāca mahāsvanaḥ ||

Translation

Assim interpelado com aquelas palavras compassivas pelos macacos que haviam abandonado a esperança de vida, o abutre de voz poderosa respondeu-lhes com lágrimas.

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (iti-avyaya/इति-अव्यय) marking reported speech

• uktaḥ: having been addressed/told
• uktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ukta (कृदन्त/धातु √vac)
• Form: Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana, Puṃliṅga; bhūta-kṛdanta (past passive participle) agreeing with gṛdhraḥ

• karuṇam: pitiful
• karuṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: karuṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana, Napuṃsakaliṅga; adjective qualifying vākyaṃ

• vākyam: words/speech
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana, Napuṃsakaliṅga

• vānaraīḥ: by the monkeys
• vānaraīḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana, Puṃliṅga

• tyakta-jīvitaiḥ: who had given up (hope of) life
• tyakta-jīvitaiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tyakta (कृदन्त/धातु √tyaj) + jīvita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana, Puṃliṅga; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: 'tyaktaṃ jīvitam yeṣām' (those who have abandoned life/hope), qualifying vānaraīḥ

• sa-bāṣpaḥ: tearful
• sa-bāṣpaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (सह/अव्यय) + bāṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana, Puṃliṅga; 'with tears' (सह-सम्बन्ध) qualifying gṛdhraḥ

• vānaraān: the monkeys
• vānaraān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvitīyā (2nd), Bahuvacana, Puṃliṅga

• gṛdhraḥ: the vulture
• gṛdhraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛdhra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana, Puṃliṅga

• pratyuvāca: replied
• pratyuvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-√vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (perfect/लिट्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• mahā-svanaḥ: loud-voiced
• mahā-svanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + svana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana, Puṃliṅga; karmadhāraya 'great-sounding/loud-voiced', qualifying gṛdhraḥ

Context

On hearing the pathetic words from the monkeys who had given up hope of life, the loud-voiced vulture wailing replied:

Characters & Entities

• Sampāti (the vulture)
• Vānaras

FAQs

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

Compassionate response to suffering aligns with dharma; the verse frames dialogue as guided by empathy rather than exploitation.

What is the narrative situation?

After hearing the despairing vānaras, Sampāti begins to respond, moved to tears.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Karunā (compassion) and truthful engagement with those in distress.