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Shloka 20

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

Kishkindha Kanda, Sarga 12

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

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

چونکہ راغھو کو یہ صاف معلوم نہ ہو سکا کہ سُگریو کون ہے اور والی کون، اس لیے اُس نے مہلک، جان لینے والا تیر چھوڑنے کا پختہ ارادہ نہ کیا۔

yatsince/because
yat:
Hetu (हेतु)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootyad (प्रातिपदिक)
FormAvyaya/relative particle introducing reason (यत्-कारण)
nanot
na:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
FormNegation particle (निषेध)
avagacchatrecognized/distinguished
avagacchat:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootava-√gam (धातु)
FormLaṅ (imperfect), prathama-puruṣa, ekavacana; upasarga: ava-
sugrīvamSugriva
sugrīvam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootsugrīva (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga, Dvitīyā ekavacana
vālinamVali
vālinam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootvālin (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga, Dvitīyā ekavacana
or
:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootvā (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya, disjunctive particle (विकल्प)
apialso/even
api:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootapi (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya, particle (समुच्चय/अपि)
rāghavaḥRama (descendant of Raghu)
rāghavaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootrāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga, Prathamā ekavacana
tataḥtherefore/then
tataḥ:
Hetu/Anubandha (हेतु/अनुबन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottatas (प्रातिपदिक)
FormAvyaya, adverb of consequence
nanot
na:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
FormNegation
kṛtavānmade/did
kṛtavān:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√kṛ (धातु)
FormKṛdanta: past active participle (क्तवतु), Puṃliṅga Prathamā ekavacana; with implied 'asīt' = 'did/made'
buddhimdecision/intention
buddhim:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootbuddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
FormStrīliṅga, Dvitīyā ekavacana
moktumto release
moktum:
Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
TypeVerb
Root√muc (धातु)
FormTumun infinitive (तुमुन्), purpose
antakaramdeadly
antakaram:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootantaka + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
FormTatpuruṣa: antakaṃ karoti = 'death-causing'; Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of śaram
śaramarrow
śaram:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootśara (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga, Dvitīyā ekavacana

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

R
Rāma (Rāghava)
S
Sugrīva
V
Vāli

FAQs

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

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

Self-control and responsibility in the use of power.