Shloka 32

द्वादशः सर्गः — Rama’s Proof of Power, the First Duel, and the Identification Mark

Kishkindha Kanda, Sarga 12

Devanagari script

ततोऽहं रूपसादृश्यान्मोहितो वानरोत्तम।नोत्सृजामि महावेगं शरं शत्रुनिबर्हणम्4.12.32।।

Transliteration

tato ’haṁ rūpa-sādṛśyān mohito vānarottama |

not-sṛjāmi mahā-vegaṁ śaraṁ śatru-nibarhaṇam || 4.12.32 ||

Translation

Поэтому, о лучший из обезьян, сбитый с толку вашим сходством, я не выпустил стремительную стрелу, разящую врагов.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: therefore/then
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse link)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/अनन्तर्ये अव्ययम् (then/therefore)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• rūpa-sādṛśyāt: due to similarity of appearance
• rūpa-sādṛśyāt: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक) + sādṛśya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (षष्ठी: ‘रूपस्य सादृश्यम्’), नपुंसकलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः (Ablative/5th), एकवचनम्

• mohitaḥ: bewildered
• mohitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: muh (धातु) + ta (क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त, पुल्लिङ्गे, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; ‘अहम्’ इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• vānarottama: O best of monkeys
• vānarottama: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समासः, सम्बोधन, पुल्लिङ्गे, एकवचनम्

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

• utsṛjāmi: I release/let loose
• utsṛjāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ut + sṛj (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), उत्तमपुरुषः (1st person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• mahā-vegam: very swift
• mahā-vegam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + vega (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समासः, पुल्लिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘शरम्’ इति विशेषणम्

• śaram: arrow
• śaram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• śatru-nibarhaṇam: enemy-destroying
• śatru-nibarhaṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śatru (प्रातिपदिक) + nibarhaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (षष्ठी: ‘शत्रूणां निबर्हणम्’), नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘शरम्’ इति विशेषणम्

Context

'O distinguished monkey! you both are so similar in form that I was puzzled and did not release my swift arrow that could have destroyed the enemy.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sugrīva
• Vālī (as enemy in context)
• arrow (śara)

FAQs

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

Avoiding wrongful harm is dharma; even a justified goal cannot be pursued through uncertain, potentially unjust action.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma states plainly that the resemblance caused hesitation, so he withheld the decisive shot.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Restraint (saṁyama) and care for an ally’s safety.