Shloka 62

श्रीमद्रामायणकथासङ्क्षेपः / The Ramayana in Synopsis

Narada’s Summary to Valmiki

Devanagari script

प्रतिज्ञातं च रामेण तदा वालिवधं प्रति ।।।।वालिनश्च बलं तत्र कथयामास वानर: ।

Transliteration

pratijñātaṃ ca rāmeṇa tadā vālivadhaṃ prati |

vālinaś ca balaṃ tatra kathayāmāsa vānaraḥ ||

Translation

于是罗摩立誓要诛杀婆梨；随即苏格利瓦述说婆梨的力量与英勇。

Word by Word

• pratijñātam: was vowed / was promised
• pratijñātam: Kriyā (क्रिया) (predicate, passive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-√jñā (ज्ञा) + ktá (क्त) → pratijñāta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Kṛdanta past passive participle (क्त), Napuṃsaka, Prathamā Ekavacana; impersonal passive sense: 'was promised/vowed'

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

• rāmeṇa: by Rāma
• rāmeṇa: Karta (कर्ता) (agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instrumental/3rd), Ekavacana; agent in passive

• tadā: then
• tadā: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) (time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, temporal adverb (कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण) = 'then'

• vālivadham: the slaying of Vāli
• vālivadham: Karma (कर्म) (object with prati)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vālivadha (प्रातिपदिक) = vālin + vadha
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa ‘vāleḥ vadhaḥ’ (slaying of Vāli)

• prati: about
• prati: Karma-pravacanīya (कर्मप्रवचनीय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prati (अव्यय)
• Form: Karma-pravacanīya particle governing accusative = 'about/concerning'

• vālinaḥ: of Vāli
• vālinaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) (genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vālin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive/6th), Ekavacana

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

• balam: strength / prowess
• balam: Karma (कर्म) (object of kathayāmāsa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Dvitīyā (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) (place/context)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, locative adverb (देशवाचक) = 'there/in that context'

• kathayāmāsa: told / described
• kathayāmāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kath (कथ्) (धातु) + caus? (denom) + liṭ/periphrastic perfect
• Form: Tinganta, Parasmaipada; Lakāra: Liṭ (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; meaning 'told/related'

• vānaraḥ: the monkey (Sugrīva)
• vānaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana

Context

Then Rama vowed to slay Vali. The monkey (Sugriva) described about Vali's prowess to Rama.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Vāli
• Sugrīva

FAQs

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

Dharma here is expressed as satya in action: once Rāma gives a vow (pratijñā), he is bound to uphold it. The verse frames righteousness as reliability and moral accountability in commitments.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva seeks Rāma’s help against Vāli. Rāma commits to the task, and Sugrīva begins explaining Vāli’s formidable power to clarify the challenge.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s virtue of truthfulness and steadfastness (satya-niṣṭhā) is emphasized through the act of making a binding vow; Sugrīva’s prudence appears in assessing and presenting the opponent’s strength.