Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 28, Shloka 16

अस्त्रग्रहणं संहारोपदेशश्च

Receiving the Astras and Instruction on Withdrawal

Devanagari script

स च तान् राघवो ज्ञात्वा विश्वामित्रं महामुनिम्।गच्छन्नेवाथ मधुरं श्लक्ष्णं वचनमब्रवीत्।।1.28.16।।

Transliteration

sa ca tān rāghavo jñātvā viśvāmitraṁ mahāmunim |

gacchann evātha madhuraṁ ślakṣṇaṁ vacanam abravīt || 1.28.16 ||

Translation

Rāghava, sau khi thấu hiểu trọn vẹn những vũ khí ấy, vẫn vừa đi vừa thưa với đại ẩn sĩ Viśvāmitra bằng lời dịu dàng, nhu hòa và tinh tế.

Word by Word

• सः: he (Rāghava)
• सः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तान्: those (weapons/mantras)
• तान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural); सर्वनाम

• राघवः: Rāghava (Rāma)
• राघवः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• ज्ञात्वा: having known/learned
• ज्ञात्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial to main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-क्रियाविशेषण (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकाल (prior action)

• विश्वामित्रम्: Viśvāmitra
• विश्वामित्रम्: सम्प्रदान/सम्बोधन-लक्ष्य (addressee as object of speech)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वामित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• महामुनिम्: the great sage
• महामुनिम्: विशेष्य-सम्बन्ध (apposition to Viśvāmitra)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामुनि (प्रातिपदिक: महा + मुनि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय-समास (great sage)

• गच्छन्: while going/walking
• गच्छन्: क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्रियासहचर (concomitant action)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: अवधारण (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• अथ: then
• अथ: काल-सम्बन्ध (temporal connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तर-अव्यय (then/thereafter)

• मधुरम्: sweet/gentle
• मधुरम्: विशेषण (qualifier of vacanam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• श्लक्ष्णम्: soft/pleasant
• श्लक्ष्णम्: विशेषण (qualifier of vacanam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्लक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• वचनम्: words/speech
• वचनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said/spoke
• अब्रवीत्: क्रिया (main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद; प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

Context

After having acquired the knowledge of the weapons Rama addressed maharshi Viswamitra in gentle and soft words while walking along with him.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Rāghava)
• Viśvāmitra

FAQs

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

Dharma is respectful communication, especially toward one’s teacher: knowledge and power are to be accompanied by humility and refined speech.

What is the narrative situation?

After mastering the astra-knowledge, Rāma continues the journey and addresses Viśvāmitra with courteous words, transitioning from the empowerment scene back to travel and inquiry.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vinaya (modesty) and guru-bhakti: Rāma’s gentle, polished speech reflects disciplined character rather than pride after gaining extraordinary power.