Shloka 20

तमसातीरवासः

Night on the Bank of the Tamasa and the Stratagem to Elude the Citizens

Devanagari script

यथैते नियमं पौराः कुर्वन्त्यस्मन्निवर्तने। अपि प्राणान्न्यसिष्यन्ति न तु त्यक्ष्यन्ति निश्चयम्।।2.46.20।।

Transliteration

yathaite niyamaṁ paurāḥ kurvanty asman-nivartane | api prāṇān nyasiṣyanti na tu tyakṣyanti niścayam ||2.46.20||

Translation

جس طرح یہ شہری ہماری واپسی کے بارے میں عہد باندھ چکے ہیں، یوں معلوم ہوتا ہے کہ وہ اپنی جانیں بھی نثار کر دیں گے، مگر اپنے پختہ ارادے سے ہرگز دستبردار نہ ہوں گے۔

Word by Word

• यथा: as/just as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (as/just as)

• एते: these
• एते: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (पौराः)

• नियमम्: vow/resolve
• नियमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• पौराः: citizens
• पौराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• कुर्वन्ति: do/make
• कुर्वन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• अस्मन्निवर्तने: at our return
• अस्मन्निवर्तने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् + निवर्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: अस्माकं निवर्तनम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

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

• प्राणान्: lives/breaths
• प्राणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• न्यसिष्यन्ति: will lay down/give up
• न्यसिष्यन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√अस्/न्यस् (धातु: न्यस् = ‘to lay down/renounce’)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

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

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-अव्यय (but/indeed)

• त्यक्ष्यन्ति: will abandon
• त्यक्ष्यन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• निश्चयम्: determination
• निश्चयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निश्चय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Context

On seeing the people's resolve to take us back, it appears they are prepared to give up their lives rather than abandon their determination.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• citizens (paurāḥ)

FAQs

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

Dharma as unwavering resolve (niścaya) rooted in loyalty: the citizens’ steadfastness becomes a moral force, reminding leaders to honor truth (satya) and the bond of trust with their people.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama reflects to Lakshmana on the citizens’ intense determination to bring him back, recognizing the depth of their commitment.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Collective fidelity: the citizens’ steadfast devotion and willingness to sacrifice for what they believe is righteous.