Shloka 21

कबन्धमोक्षः—सुग्रीवमैत्र्युपदेशः

Kabandha’s Release and Counsel to Befriend Sugriva

Devanagari script

सन्निधायायुधं क्षिप्रमृष्यमूकालयं कपिम्।।।।कुरु राघव सत्येन वयस्यं वनचारिणम्।

Transliteration

sannidhāyāyudhaṃ kṣipram ṛṣyamūkālayaṃ kapim | kuru rāghava satyena vayasyaṃ vanacāriṇam ||

Translation

هيّئ سلاحك سريعًا، يا راغهافا، وبالصدق والإخلاص اجعل ذلك القرد—الساكن في رِشياموكا والجوّال في الغابة—صديقًا لك.

Word by Word

• सन्निधाय: having kept ready
• सन्निधाय: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + नि + धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा/ल्यप्-अर्थे (absolutive/gerund) ‘having placed/kept ready’

• आयुधम्: weapon
• आयुधम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• क्षिप्रम्: quickly
• क्षिप्रम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्षिप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय

• ऋष्यमूकालयम्: dwelling at Rishyamuka
• ऋष्यमूकालयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऋष्यमूक + आलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (ऋष्यमूकस्य आलयः) विशेषण (कपिम्)

• कपिम्: the monkey
• कपिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कुरु: make
• कुरु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• राघव: O Raghava
• राघव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• सत्येन: with truth / truthfully
• सत्येन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; साधन/प्रकारे (by truthfully)

• वयस्यम्: friend
• वयस्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वयस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म-सम्प्रदान-सम्बन्धे ‘make (him) a friend’

• वनचारिणम्: forest-roaming
• वनचारिणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वन + चारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (वने चरति) विशेषण (कपिम्/वयस्यम्)

Context

O Rama, with your weapons kept ready, go to Sugriva, king of the monkeys, a resident of Rishyamuka. He is wandering in the forest. Establish friendship with him.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Rāghava)
• Sugrīva
• Ṛṣyamūka
• Weapons (āyudha)
• Forest (vana)

FAQs

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

Satya as the basis of relationship: righteous friendship is founded on truthful intention, even while remaining vigilant in perilous terrain.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma is instructed to approach Sugrīva at Ṛṣyamūka prepared for danger, yet to establish friendship through sincerity.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Balanced conduct: readiness (self-protection) combined with truthfulness (open-hearted alliance).