Ramayana — Kishkindha Kanda, Sarga 2, Shloka 18

द्वितीयः सर्गः (Sarga 2): Sugriva’s Alarm and Hanuman’s Commission

Devanagari script

बुद्धिविज्ञानसम्पन्न इङ्गितैस्सर्वमाचर।न ह्यबुद्धिं गतो राजा सर्वभूतानि शास्ति हि4.2.18।।

Transliteration

buddhivijñānasampanna iṅgitaiḥ sarvam ācara | na hy abuddhiṃ gato rājā sarvabhūtāni śāsti hi ||

Translation

Be endowed with intelligence and discernment, and act in every matter with attentive reading of signs and gestures; for a king who has fallen into folly cannot truly govern and restrain all beings.

Word by Word

• buddhi-vijñāna-sampannaḥ: endowed with intelligence and knowledge
• buddhi-vijñāna-sampannaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: buddhi + vijñāna + sampanna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (बुद्ध्या विज्ञानेन च सम्पन्नः), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• iṅgitaiḥ: by gestures/signs
• iṅgitaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: iṅgita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• sarvam: everything
• sarvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ācara: do/act
• ācara: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: car (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle: indeed/for)

• abuddhim: lack of intellect
• abuddhim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abuddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• gataḥ: having gone to/possessed of
• gataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• rājā: a king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• sarva-bhūtāni: all beings
• sarva-bhūtāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva + bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (सर्वाणि भूतानि), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• śāsti: rules/governs
• śāsti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śās (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle: indeed)

Context

Having heard the wise words of Hanuman, Sugriva addressed him with words moreauspicious.

Characters & Entities

• Hanuman
• Sugriva
• King (rājā)

FAQs

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

Rajadharma rests on clear intelligence and discernment; without wisdom, authority becomes ineffective and unjust.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān advises Sugrīva to be perceptive and thoughtful, reading intentions through signs, so he can act prudently.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discernment (viveka) and prudent leadership (nīti) grounded in truth-seeking observation.