Shloka 23

Agastya’s Instruction to Raghunātha (Rāma): Sin, Remorse, and the Aśvamedha Remedy

Devanagari script

इति श्रुत्वा ततो वाक्यं रामः परपुरंजयः । उवाच मधुरं वाक्यं गद्गदस्वरभाषितम्

Transliteration

iti śrutvā tato vākyaṃ rāmaḥ parapuraṃjayaḥ | uvāca madhuraṃ vākyaṃ gadgadasvarabhāṣitam

Translation

یہ باتیں سن کر رام—دشمنوں کے شہروں کو فتح کرنے والا—میٹھے کلمات بولا؛ جذبات سے اس کی آواز بھر آئی۔

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Avyaya (अव्यय/Quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक अव्यय (quotative particle) — 'thus'

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Converb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √śru (श्रु धातु) + क्त्वा (क्त्वा) → śrutvā
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund) — 'having heard'

• ततः: then
• ततः: Avyaya (अव्यय/Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) — 'then/thereupon'

• वाक्यम्: speech / words
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object) (of 'śrutvā')
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• रामः: Rāma
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• परपुरंजयः: conqueror of enemy cities
• परपुरंजयः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानााधिकरण/Apposition to Rāma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para + pura + jaya (प्रातिपदिक); परस्य पुरं जयति इति
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (determinative epithet)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मधुरम्: sweet
• मधुरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object) (qualifying)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: madhura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण of 'वाक्यम्'

• वाक्यम्: speech / words
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object) (of 'uvāca')
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• गद्गदस्वरभाषितम्: spoken in a choked voice
• गद्गदस्वरभाषितम्: Karma (कर्म/Object) (qualifying)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gadgada + svara + bhāṣita (√bhāṣ (भाष् धातु) + kta) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (gadgadasvaraṃ bhāṣitam) + क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle) used adjectivally for 'वाक्यम्'

Speaker

Narrator (describing Rāma’s response)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: परपुरंजयः → परपुरंजयः (पर + पुर + जय); गद्गदस्वरभाषितम् = गद्गद + स्वर + भाषितम्

Characters & Entities

• Rāma

FAQs

Who is being described as speaking in this verse?

Rāma is described as speaking, while the narrator reports his reaction after hearing someone’s words.

What does “gadgadasvara” convey in the verse?

It indicates a voice that trembles or becomes choked due to strong emotion—often compassion, grief, or overwhelming feeling.

What is the ethical or devotional tone implied here?

The verse highlights ideal speech: even in intense circumstances, Rāma responds with sweetness and emotional sincerity rather than harshness.