Shloka 17

शरत्प्रवेशे रामविलापः तथा सुग्रीवप्रमादे लक्ष्मणप्रेषणम्

Autumn’s Onset: Rama’s Lament and Lakshmana Sent to Sugriva

Devanagari script

क्रियाभियोगं मनसः प्रसादंसमाधियोगानुगतं च कालम्।सहायसामर्थ्यमदीनसत्त्वःस्वकर्म हेतुं च कुरुष्व हेतुम्।।

Transliteration

kriyābhiyogaṁ manasaḥ prasādaṁ samādhiyogānugataṁ ca kālam | sahāyasāmarthyam adīnasattvaḥ svakarma hetuṁ ca kuruṣva hetum ||

Translation

Hỡi bậc tâm lực không nao núng, hãy dốc lòng vào hành động quyết đoán; nhờ sự quán niệm có kỷ luật mà phục hồi sự trong sáng và an hòa của tâm, rồi hành sự đúng thời. Hãy lấy sức mạnh của nỗ lực tự thân cùng sự trợ lực có thể quy tụ làm chính nhân duyên đưa đến thành tựu.

Word by Word

• kriyābhiyogam: effort in action
• kriyābhiyogam: Karma (कर्म; object of kuruṣva)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kriyā + abhiyoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: ‘application/engagement in action’

• manasaḥ: of the mind
• manasaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• prasādam: clarity/serenity
• prasādam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prasāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• samādhi-yogānugatam: accompanied by contemplative discipline
• samādhi-yogānugatam: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samādhi + yoga + anugata (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √gam (धातु) + kta with anu-)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: ‘followed by samādhi-yoga’; qualifies kālam

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle

• kālam: time/opportunity
• kālam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• sahāya-sāmarthyam: supporting strength/aid
• sahāya-sāmarthyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahāya + sāmarthya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: ‘strength of assistance/support’

• adīna-sattvaḥ: O undaunted one
• adīna-sattvaḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन; pragmatic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adīna + sattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; karmadhāraya: ‘undaunted (adīna) in spirit (sattva)’; vocative sense by context though form is nominative

• svakarma: your own action
• svakarma: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva + karma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: ‘one’s own action’

• hetum: cause/means
• hetum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hetu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle

• kuruṣva: do/make
• kuruṣva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (Imperative), Parasmaipada, Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd person), Ekavacana

• hetum: a cause/means
• hetum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hetu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; predicate-object: ‘make (it) a cause’

Context

'You are an undaunted warrior. Take to the path of action. Resort to samadhiyoga or meditation and regain the serenity of mind. Make the strength of your effort the source of your success.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana

FAQs

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

Dharma here is disciplined responsibility: inner composure (prasāda, samādhi) must lead to timely, effective action. Righteous ends are pursued through right means—self-effort, planning, and appropriate support.

What is the narrative situation?

After the rainy season, Rama is distressed that the search for Sita has not progressed as promised. This verse urges him toward calm, purposeful action rather than paralysis by grief.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfast courage joined with practical wisdom—maintaining mental clarity while taking concrete steps at the proper time.