वाल्मीकि-रामायणम् vālmīki-rāmāyaṇam - book-2, chapter-1, verse-15

स हि नित्यं प्रशान्तात्मा मृदुपूर्वं च भाषते ।
उच्यमानो ऽपि परुषं नोत्तरं प्रतिपद्यते ॥१५॥

15. sa hi nityaṃ praśāntātmā mṛdupūrvaṃ ca bhāṣate ,
ucyamāno'pi paruṣaṃ nottaraṃ pratipadyate.

15. saḥ hi nityam praśāntātmā mṛdupūrvam ca bhāṣate
ucyamānaḥ api paruṣam na uttaram pratipadyate

15. hi saḥ nityam praśāntātmā mṛdupūrvam ca bhāṣate
paruṣam ucyamānaḥ api uttaram na pratipadyate

15. Indeed, he was always tranquil in spirit (ātman) and spoke gently. Even when addressed harshly, he would not respond with a retort.

Words meanings summery:

• सः (saḥ) - he

• हि (hi) - indeed, surely, for

• नित्यम् (nityam) - always, constantly

• प्रशान्तात्मा (praśāntātmā) - tranquil-souled, whose self is calm

• मृदुपूर्वम् (mṛdupūrvam) - gently, preceded by softness

• च (ca) - and

• भाषते (bhāṣate) - he speaks, he says

• उच्यमानः (ucyamānaḥ) - being spoken to, being addressed

• अपि (api) - even, also

• परुषम् (paruṣam) - harshly, rudely

• न (na) - not

• उत्तरम् (uttaram) - reply, answer

• प्रतिपद्यते (pratipadyate) - he responds, he gives a reply (he obtains, he replies, he returns)

Words meanings and morphology

सः (saḥ) - he

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of tad

tad - that, he, she, it

Note: Refers to Rama.

हि (hi) - indeed, surely, for

(indeclinable)

Note: Emphatic particle.

नित्यम् (nityam) - always, constantly

(indeclinable)

Note: Adverbial use of neuter accusative singular.

प्रशान्तात्मा (praśāntātmā) - tranquil-souled, whose self is calm

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of praśāntātman

praśāntātman - one whose spirit (ātman) is calm or tranquil

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (praśānta+ātman)

• praśānta – calm, tranquil, serene
  adjective (masculine)
  past passive participle
  from pra-śam
  Prefix: pra
  Root: śam (class 4)
• ātman – self, soul, spirit, essence
  noun (masculine)
  Root: an (class 2)

मृदुपूर्वम् (mṛdupūrvam) - gently, preceded by softness

(indeclinable)

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (mṛdu+pūrva)

• mṛdu – soft, gentle, tender
  adjective (neuter)
• pūrva – previous, prior, preceding
  adjective (neuter)

Note: Adverbial use.

च (ca) - and

(indeclinable)

Note: Connects 'praśāntātmā' (state) with 'bhāṣate' (action).

भाषते (bhāṣate) - he speaks, he says

(verb)

3rd person , singular, middle, present (laṭ) of bhāṣ

Root: bhāṣ (class 1)

Note: Atmanepada.

उच्यमानः (ucyamānaḥ) - being spoken to, being addressed

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of ucyamāna

ucyamāna - being spoken, being said

present passive participle

from root vac, passive form

Root: vac (class 2)

Note: Qualifies Rama (implied subject).

अपि (api) - even, also

(indeclinable)

Note: Used with participles to mean 'even when...'.

परुषम् (paruṣam) - harshly, rudely

(indeclinable)

Note: Adverbial use of neuter accusative singular.

न (na) - not

(indeclinable)

Note: Negates the verb 'pratipadyate'.

उत्तरम् (uttaram) - reply, answer

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of uttara

uttara - answer, reply, north, later, superior

Note: Object of 'pratipadyate'.

प्रतिपद्यते (pratipadyate) - he responds, he gives a reply (he obtains, he replies, he returns)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, middle, present (laṭ) of pad

Prefix: prati

Root: pad (class 4)

Note: Combined with 'prati' means 'to respond' or 'to give back'.