Shloka 28

Devanagari script

तौ चापि मधुरं रक्तं स्वञ्चितायतनिस्वनम् ।तन्त्रीलयवदत्यर्थं विश्रुतार्थमगायताम् ।।1.4.28।।

Transliteration

tau cāpi madhuraṃ raktaṃ svañcitāyatanisvanam | tantrīlayavad atyarthaṃ viśrutārtham agāyatām || 1.4.28 ||

Translation

那二人亦以甜美动人的歌声吟唱，音韵调和、回响充盈；随弦乐节拍而行，将义理唱得分明而有力。

Word by Word

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि-कारः (particle: also/even)

• मधुरम्: sweetly; melodiously
• मधुरम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial accusative)

• रक्तम्: engagingly; with passion
• रक्तम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत्

• स्वञ्चितायतनिस्वनम्: with well-modulated, sustained resonance
• स्वञ्चितायतनिस्वनम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वञ्चित + आयत + निस्वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (descriptive): स्वञ्चितः (well-modulated/controlled) आयतः (extended) निस्वनः (sound/voice) यस्य तत्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत्

• तन्त्रीलयवत्: with (proper) string-instrument rhythm
• तन्त्रीलयवत्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तन्त्री + लय + वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वत्-प्रत्ययान्त-अव्यय (indeclinable in -vat): "like/with"; उपमान/रीति-बोधक

• अत्यर्थम्: exceedingly; greatly
• अत्यर्थम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्यर्थ (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाण/तीव्रता-बोधक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of degree)

• विश्रुतार्थम्: with clearly intelligible meaning
• विश्रुतार्थम्: Karma (कर्म) (object described)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्रुत + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: विश्रुतः (well-known/clearly heard) अर्थः (meaning) यस्य; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; गेयम्/गानम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (object implied)

• अगायताम्: they two sang
• अगायताम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गै (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), द्विवचन (Dual), परस्मैपद

Context

The great intellectual and competent Valmiki having composed the Ramayanam including the events of Uttarakanda as well as future events, reflected as to who could translate into performance the epic.

Characters & Entities

• Kusha
• Lava
• assembly

FAQs

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

Dharma here is faithful communication: truth (satya) should be conveyed with clarity and discipline so that listeners grasp meaning, not merely sound.

What is the narrative situation?

Kuśa and Lava begin singing the narrative with musical rhythm and clear articulation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Their skill joined with restraint and precision—an ideal of learned performance where artistry serves truthful meaning.