Shloka 14

सम्पातिवाक्यम्

Sampāti’s Counsel and the Revelation of Laṅkā

Devanagari script

रामस्य यदिदं कार्यं कर्तव्यं प्रथमं मया।जरया च हृतं तेजः प्राणाश्च शिथिला मम।।4.58.14।।

Transliteration

rāmasya yad idaṃ kāryaṃ kartavyaṃ prathamaṃ mayā |

jarayā ca hṛtaṃ tejaḥ prāṇāś ca śithilā mama || 4.58.14 ||

Translation

กิจของพระรามนี้ควรเป็นหน้าที่ที่ข้าพเจ้าต้องทำก่อนเป็นอันดับแรก แต่ชราภาพได้พรากพลังเดชของข้าพเจ้าไป และกำลังชีวิตของข้าพเจ้าก็อ่อนแรงลงแล้ว

Word by Word

• रामस्य: of Rama
• रामस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• यत्: which
• यत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; निर्देश-सर्वनाम

• कार्यम्: task
• कार्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कर्तव्यम्: to be done/duty
• कर्तव्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कर्तव्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण; क्तव्यत्-प्रत्यय (gerundive/obligatory) ‘to be done’

• प्रथमम्: first
• प्रथमम्: Discourse/Manner (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोग (adverbial accusative)

• मया: by me
• मया: Kartr̥/Agent-instrument (कर्ता/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• जरया: by old age
• जरया: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Discourse (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• हृतम्: taken away
• हृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृ (धातु) → हृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle) ‘taken away’

• तेजः: vigor/energy
• तेजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्राणाः: vital breaths/strength
• प्राणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Discourse (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• शिथिलाः: slackened/weakened
• शिथिलाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिथिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of प्राणाः)

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

Context

'I saw a young lady of beautiful appearance, adorned with all kinds of ornaments borne away by the evil-minded Ravana. That dainty lady was calling out, 'O Rama, O Lakshmana' and was crying aloud. She was throwing away her ornaments and waswriggling to get out of Ravana's grip.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sampāti

FAQs

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

Prioritizing duty while acknowledging limitations truthfully: dharma includes intention and effort, not mere physical capacity.

What is the narrative situation?

Sampāti expresses willingness to help Rāma but admits that old age prevents direct action.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility with commitment: he claims responsibility without boasting and speaks honestly about weakness.