Shloka 15

लक्ष्मणोपदेशः

Lakshmana Consoles Rama on Fate, Fortitude, and Right Action

Devanagari script

तत्त्वतो हि नरश्रेष्ठ बुद्ध्या समनुचिन्तय।बुध्द्या युक्ता महाप्राज्ञा विजानन्ति शुभाशुभे।।3.66.15।।

Transliteration

tattvato hi naraśreṣṭha buddhyā samanucintaya |

buddhyā yuktā mahāprājñā vijānanti śubhāśubhe || 3.66.15 ||

Translation

Hỡi bậc tối thượng trong loài người, hãy dùng trí tuệ mà quán xét sự thật của vạn sự. Người đại trí, có phân biệt, hiểu rõ điều lành và điều dữ, rồi thuận theo đó mà chọn lấy.

Word by Word

• tattvataḥ: in truth/accurately
• tattvataḥ: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb) ‘from the truth/according to reality’

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

• naraśreṣṭha: O best of men
• naraśreṣṭha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक) + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘best of men’)

• buddhyā: with (your) intellect
• buddhyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण (instrument)

• samanucintaya: reflect properly
• samanucintaya: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-anu-√cint (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/लोट्), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• buddhyā: with intellect
• buddhyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण

• yuktāḥ: endowed/connected
• yuktāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yukta (कृदन्त; √yuj धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (mahāprājñāḥ)

• mahāprājñāḥ: the very wise
• mahāprājñāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + prājña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (‘great-wise’)

• vijānanti: know/discern
• vijānanti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√jñā (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• śubhāśubhe: good and evil
• śubhāśubhe: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक) + aśubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (‘good and bad’)

Context

O best among men ! judge the facts rightly with your intellect. The wise apply their minds and know what is right and what is wrong.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana

FAQs

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

Dharma depends on viveka (discernment): seeing reality clearly and distinguishing śubha from aśubha before acting.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakshmana urges Rama to shift from emotional overwhelm to rational assessment so that the search and response can proceed effectively.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Buddhi and prajñā: the capacity to think clearly under pressure and choose the righteous, effective course.