Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 100, Shloka 37

शततमः सर्गः — Rāma Questions Bharata on Rājadharma

Governance, Counsel, and Public Welfare

Devanagari script

कच्चिद्व्यपास्तानहितान्प्रतियातांश्च सर्वदा।दुर्बलाननवज्ञाय वर्तसे रिपुसूदन।।।।

Transliteration

kaccid vyapāstān ahitān pratiyātāṃś ca sarvadā | durbalān anavajñāya vartase ripusūdana ||

Translation

噬敌者啊，你是否常怀警觉——不轻忽那些曾被击退却又归来的仇敌，即便他们看似软弱？

Word by Word

• कच्चित्: I hope / is it the case that
• कच्चित्: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः) (discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कच्चित् (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative particle (प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय), expressing hope

• व्यपास्तान्: repelled / driven away
• व्यपास्तान्: Karma (कर्म) (object set with 'अनवज्ञाय')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यपास्त (कृदन्त; अस्/स्था? here from अप-आस्/अप-स्था sense 'remove'; standard: व्यप-आस् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Plural (बहुवचन); qualifying 'अहितान्': 'repelled/removed'

• अहितान्: enemies / hostile ones
• अहितान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Plural (बहुवचन); 'enemies/ill-wishers'

• प्रतियातान्: those who have retreated
• प्रतियातान्: Karma (कर्म) (coordinated with 'अहितान्')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतियात (कृदन्त; या धातु (धातु) + प्रति- उपसर्ग, क्त)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Plural (बहुवचन); 'those who have returned/withdrawn'

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः) (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय)

• सर्वदा: always
• सर्वदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण) (temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वदा (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक-अव्यय): 'always'

• दुर्बलान्: the weak
• दुर्बलान्: Karma (कर्म) (object of 'अनवज्ञाय')
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Plural (बहुवचन); 'the weak (persons)'

• अनवज्ञाय: without neglecting
• अनवज्ञाय: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः) (gerund modifying 'वर्तसे')
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनवज्ञा (कृदन्त; अवज्ञा-धात्वर्थ/नामधातु; ल्यप्/क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त-अव्ययकृदन्त): 'without neglecting/disdaining'

• वर्तसे: you conduct yourself / remain (vigilant)
• वर्तसे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत् (धातु) (आत्मनेपद)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Atmanepada (आत्मनेपद), Second person (मध्यमपुरुष) Singular (एकवचन)

• रिपुसूदन: O slayer of foes
• रिपुसूदन: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रिपु + सूदन (प्रातिपदिक; रिपुसूदन) (समास)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन) Singular (एकवचन); 'slayer of enemies'

Context

O slayer of foes, I hope you are always alert about your foes who were defeated by you and have come back. You should not ignore your enemies thinking they are weak.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata

FAQs

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

Responsible rule requires steady vigilance; dismissing threats out of pride or complacency endangers the kingdom and violates the duty of protection.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma advises Bharata on security: past victories do not eliminate future danger, so governance must remain alert.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Aparihārya-sāvadhānatā (unfailing alertness): not mistaking temporary weakness for permanent harmlessness.