Shloka 13

अस्त्रग्रहणं संहारोपदेशश्च

Receiving the Astras and Instruction on Withdrawal

Devanagari script

बाढमित्येव काकुत्स्थ: प्रहृष्टेनान्तारात्मना।

दिव्यभास्वरदेहाश्च मूर्तिमन्तस्सुखप्रदा:।।1.28.11

केचिदङ्गारसदृशा: केचिद्धूमोपमास्तथा।

चन्द्रार्कसदृशा: केचित्प्रह्वाञ्जलिपुटास्तथा।।1.28.12।।

रामं प्राञ्जलयो भूत्वाऽब्रुवन् मधुरभाषिण:।

इमे स्म नरशार्दूल शाधि किं करवाम ते।।1.28.13।।

Transliteration

rāmaṁ prāñjalayo bhūtvā ’bruvan madhura-bhāṣiṇaḥ |

ime sma naraśārdūla śādhi kiṁ karavāma te || 1.28.13 ||

Translation

他们合掌恭立，言辞柔和地对罗摩说道：“人中之虎啊，我们在此听命；请下令吧，我们当为你做什么？”

Word by Word

• रामम्: Rama (to Rama / addressing Rama as object of speech)
• रामम्: कर्म (object) — अब्रुवन् इत्यस्य
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः; द्वितीया-विभक्तिः; एकवचनम् (masculine; accusative case; singular)

• प्राञ्जलयः: with folded hands / reverent (persons with joined palms)
• प्राञ्जलयः: कर्ता (agent) — अब्रुवन् इत्यस्य
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक; प्र + अञ्जलि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः; प्रथमा-विभक्तिः; बहुवचनम् (masculine; nominative case; plural)

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverbial modifier of action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्तम्; पूर्वकालिकक्रिया (absolutive/gerund; action prior to main verb)

• अब्रुवन्: said / spoke
• अब्रुवन्: क्रिया (main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकारः; प्रथमपुरुषः; बहुवचनम्; परस्मैपदम् (imperfect; 3rd person; plural; parasmaipada)

• मधुरभाषिणः: sweet-speaking
• मधुरभाषिणः: कर्तृविशेषणम् (qualifier of agent)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधुर + भाषिन् (प्रातिपदिक); भाषिन् = भाष् (धातु) + इन् (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः; प्रथमा-विभक्तिः; बहुवचनम् (masculine; nominative case; plural); विशेषणम् (qualifier of प्राञ्जलयः)

• इमे: these (we here)
• इमे: कर्ता (agent) — (अस्मि/भवामः इत्यर्थे) स्वपरिचयवाक्ये
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः; प्रथमा-विभक्तिः; बहुवचनम् (masculine; nominative case; plural)

• स्म: indeed / (particle)
• स्म: सम्बन्ध/वाक्यालङ्कार (discourse particle; no karaka)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्म (निपात/अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः; वाक्ये स्मरण/निश्चय/अनुस्मारकत्वार्थकः (particle; emphatic/recalling nuance)

• नरशार्दूल: O tiger among men / best of men
• नरशार्दूल: सम्बोधन (address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर + शार्दूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः; सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः; एकवचनम् (masculine; vocative; singular)

• शाधि: command / instruct
• शाधि: क्रिया (command/request)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शास् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकारः; मध्यमपुरुषः; एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम् (imperative; 2nd person; singular; parasmaipada)

• किम्: what
• किम्: कर्म (object) — करवाम इत्यस्य
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः; द्वितीया-विभक्तिः; एकवचनम् (neuter; accusative; singular); प्रश्नार्थकं (interrogative)

• करवाम: should we two do / shall we do
• करवाम: क्रिया (proposed action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकारः; उत्तमपुरुषः; द्विवचनम्; परस्मैपदम् (optative; 1st person; dual; parasmaipada)

• ते: for you / of you
• ते: सम्प्रदान/सम्बन्ध (beneficiary/possessor relation with action)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्तिः; एकवचनम् (genitive case; singular); (त्वदीयार्थे) (of/for you)

Context

"Certainly" said Rama, and with a delighted heart received the astras. Some of the astra devatas were coal-black, some like smoke, some resembled rays of Sun or Moon. Assuming corporal forms, with shining, divine bodies, those weapons the their bodies bent down and palms folder they spoke to Rama in a gentle voice: "O tiger among men, here we are, What can we do for you"?

Characters & Entities

• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma is the ordering of power through rightful command: the astras (as divine agencies) present themselves as servants of a dhārmic bearer, indicating that force is legitimate only when guided by righteous intent and accountable authority.

What is the narrative situation?

The weapon-deities, having manifested, formally offer their obedience to Rāma and request his instructions, signaling that the astras are now available to him when properly invoked.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s leadership and moral fitness (maryādā) are highlighted: beings of immense power willingly submit to him, implying he embodies restraint, clarity of purpose, and adherence to dharma.