Shloka 20

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

Kishkindha Kanda, Sarga 12

Devanagari script

यन्नावगच्छत्सुग्रीवं वालिनं वापि राघवः।ततो न कृतवान्बुद्धिं मोक्तुमन्तकरं शरम्4.12.20।।

Transliteration

yan nāvagacchat sugrīvaṃ vālinam vāpi rāghavaḥ | tato na kṛtavān buddhiṃ moktum antakaraṃ śaram || 4.12.20 ||

Translation

Yamang hindi malinaw kay Rāghava kung alin ang Sugrīva at alin ang Vāli, hindi niya pinagtibay sa isip ang pagpapakawala ng palasong nagdadala ng kamatayan.

Word by Word

• yat: since/because
• yat: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya/relative particle introducing reason (यत्-कारण)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध)

• avagacchat: recognized/distinguished
• avagacchat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-√gam (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ (imperfect), prathama-puruṣa, ekavacana; upasarga: ava-

• sugrīvam: Sugriva
• sugrīvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sugrīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā ekavacana

• vālinam: Vali
• vālinam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vālin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā ekavacana

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, disjunctive particle (विकल्प)

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle (समुच्चय/अपि)

• rāghavaḥ: Rama (descendant of Raghu)
• rāghavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā ekavacana

• tataḥ: therefore/then
• tataḥ: Hetu/Anubandha (हेतु/अनुबन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb of consequence

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation

• kṛtavān: made/did
• kṛtavān: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: past active participle (क्तवतु), Puṃliṅga Prathamā ekavacana; with implied 'asīt' = 'did/made'

• buddhim: decision/intention
• buddhim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā ekavacana

• moktum: to release
• moktum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √muc (धातु)
• Form: Tumun infinitive (तुमुन्), purpose

• antakaram: deadly
• antakaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: antaka + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: antakaṃ karoti = 'death-causing'; Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of śaram

• śaram: arrow
• śaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā ekavacana

Context

Since Rama was not able to distinguish between Vali and Sugriva, he could not decide whether he should discharge his deadly arrow .

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Rāghava)
• Sugrīva
• Vāli

FAQs

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

Right action requires certainty: when identification is doubtful, dharma favors restraint over irreversible violence.

What is the narrative situation?

During the fight, Rāma cannot distinguish Sugrīva from Vāli and therefore delays shooting.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-control and responsibility in the use of power.