Shloka 4

सम्पातिवाक्यम्

Sampāti’s Counsel and the Revelation of Laṅkā

Devanagari script

पुरा वृत्रवधे वृत्ते परस्परजयैषिणौ।आदित्यमुपयातौ स्वो ज्वलन्तं रश्मिमालिनम्।।4.58.4।।

Transliteration

purā vṛtra-vadhe vṛtte paraspara-jayaiṣiṇau |

ādityam upayātau svaḥ jvalantaṁ raśmi-mālinam ||

Translation

往昔，在诛灭弗利陀（Vṛtra）之后，我二人彼此争胜，飞向那炽然的太阳，周身为光芒之鬘所环绕。

Word by Word

• purā: formerly
• purā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: Kāla-avyaya (time adverb)

• vṛtra-vadhe: at the slaying of Vrtra
• vṛtra-vadhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛtra (प्रातिपदिक) + vadha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Saptamī (7th), Ekavacana, Puṃliṅga; tatpuruṣa 'slaying of Vṛtra'

• vṛtte: when it happened
• vṛtte: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛtta (कृदन्त/धातु √vṛt)
• Form: Saptamī (7th), Ekavacana, Puṃliṅga/napuṃsaka; past participle used in locative absolute sense: 'when it had occurred'

• paraspara-jaya-eṣiṇau: both seeking victory over each other
• paraspara-jaya-eṣiṇau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paraspara (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + jaya (प्रातिपदिक) + eṣin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Prathamā (1st), Dvivacana (dual/द्विवचन), Puṃliṅga; tatpuruṣa: 'seeking mutual victory' qualifying the two brothers

• ādityam: the Sun
• ādityam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āditya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana, Puṃliṅga

• upayātau: (the two) approached/went to
• upayātau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√yā (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (perfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Dvivacana; parasmaipada

• svaḥ: we two
• svaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Prathamā (1st), Dvivacana (dual) in sense; Vedic/epic usage for 'we two' (asmāv)

• jvalantam: blazing
• jvalantam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jvalant (कृदन्त/धातु √jval)
• Form: Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana, Puṃliṅga; śatṛ present participle qualifying ādityam

• raśmi-mālinam: garlanded with rays
• raśmi-mālinam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: raśmi (प्रातिपदिक) + mālin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana, Puṃliṅga; tatpuruṣa: 'having a garland of rays' qualifying ādityam

Context

'Flying in the sky at a violently high speed, we reached the meridian of the Sun when, unable to bear the heat, Jatayu became weak.

Characters & Entities

• Sampāti
• Jatāyu
• Vṛtra
• Āditya (Sun)
• Indra (implied by Vṛtra episode)

FAQs

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

A warning against reckless rivalry: unchecked pride can lead to danger; Dharma requires restraint and right judgment.

What is the narrative situation?

Sampāti begins recounting an old incident explaining how he and Jatāyu came near the Sun due to competitive zeal.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reflective honesty—Sampāti admits the impulse of rivalry that led to suffering, turning experience into instruction.