Shloka 19

दनु-शापकथा तथा सीताहरण-प्रश्नः

Danu’s Curse Narrative and Rama’s Inquiry about Sita

Devanagari script

अहं हि मतिसाचिव्यं करिष्यामि नरर्षभ।।3.71.19।।मित्रं चैवोपदेक्ष्यामि युवाभ्यां संस्कृतोऽग्निना।

Transliteration

ahaṃ hi matisācivyaṃ kariṣyāmi nararṣabha | mitraṃ caivopadekṣyāmi yuvābhyāṃ saṃskṛto 'gninā ||

Translation

โอ้บุรุษผู้ประเสริฐ ข้าพเจ้าจะช่วยท่านด้วยคำปรึกษาจากปัญญาของข้าพเจ้า; และเมื่อได้รับการชำระด้วยไฟโดยท่านทั้งสองแล้ว ข้าพเจ้าจักแนะนำท่านดุจมิตรสหาย

Word by Word

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Nominative 1st (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha/Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle (निपात) emphasizing/assertive

• mati-sācivyam: help/assistance of counsel
• mati-sācivyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mati (प्रातिपदिक) + sācivya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative 2nd (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• kariṣyāmi: I will do
• kariṣyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Future (लृट्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• nara-ṛṣabha: O bull among men
• nara-ṛṣabha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक) + ṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (genitive sense) used as epithet; Vocative (सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग)

• mitram: as a friend
• mitram: Karma/Upapada (कर्म/उपपद)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative 2nd (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); predicative/appositional to 'aham'

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction (समुच्चय)

• eva: indeed; also
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, emphatic particle (अवधारण)

• upadekṣyāmi: I will advise; instruct
• upadekṣyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-diś (धातु)
• Form: Future (लृट्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• yuvābhyām: by you two
• yuvābhyām: Karaṇa/Sahakārī (करण/सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Instrumental 3rd (तृतीया), Dual (द्विवचन)

• saṃskṛtaḥ: purified; consecrated
• saṃskṛtaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃskṛta (कृदन्त, क्त from √kṛ with sam-)
• Form: Past passive participle used adjectivally; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative 1st (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• agninā: by fire
• agninā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental 3rd (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

With my appearance, I was a great nuisance to the world and used to terrorise the sages living in the forest.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Agni (fire)

FAQs

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

Truthful, well-intentioned counsel (hitopadeśa) is presented as a dharmic service; purification through proper rites is treated as restoring fitness to speak and guide.

What is the narrative situation?

Danu promises Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa that after being purified by fire (through cremation rites), he will help them with wise counsel and friendly advice.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The virtue of helpful guidance rooted in sincerity—offering oneself as a friend and advisor once ritually purified.