Shloka 16

कबन्धमोक्षः—सुग्रीवमैत्र्युपदेशः

Kabandha’s Release and Counsel to Befriend Sugriva

Devanagari script

भवितव्यं हि यच्चापि न तच्छक्यमिहान्यथा।कर्तुमिक्ष्वाकुशार्दूल कालो हि दुरतिक्रमः।।।।

Transliteration

bhavitavyaṃ hi yaccāpi na tac chakyam ihānyathā | kartuṃ ikṣvākuśārdūla kālo hi duratikramaḥ ||

Translation

اے اِکشواکو وंश کے شیر! جو ہونا مقدر ہے، اسے یہاں کسی اور طرح نہیں کیا جا سکتا؛ کیونکہ کال (وقت/تقدیر) واقعی ناقابلِ عبور ہے۔

Word by Word

• भवितव्यम्: inevitable, must-be
• भवितव्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भू (धातु) → भवितव्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भाव्य/तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligatory), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘must happen’

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ

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

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• अपि: even, also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) ‘also/even’

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तद्-प्रत्यय (correlative)

• शक्यम्: possible
• शक्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक् (धातु) → शक्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (potential/possible), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘possible’

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb)

• कर्तुम्: to do
• कर्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), ‘to do’

• इक्ष्वाकुशार्दूल: O tiger among the Ikshvakus
• इक्ष्वाकुशार्दूल: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इक्ष्वाकु + शार्दूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (इक्ष्वाकूणां शार्दूलः = best of Ikṣvāku)

• कालः: time
• कालः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• दुरतिक्रमः: hard to overcome
• दुरतिक्रमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् + अतिक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (दुर्-उपसर्गपूर्वक) ‘hard to cross’

Context

O best of the Ikshvaku race! whatever is due to happen cannot be otherwise. It is notpossible to transgress time (fate).

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Ikṣvāku (dynasty)
• Kāla (Time/Fate)

FAQs

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

Acceptance of inevitability (kāla) without abandoning righteous effort—Dharma includes clarity about what cannot be changed, paired with steadfastness in what must be done.

What is the narrative situation?

In the wake of tragedy and urgent decisions, Rāma is reminded that certain outcomes unfold by Time, and lamentation cannot reverse them.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadiness and discernment: the ability to face irreversible events truthfully and continue the righteous course.