Shloka 10

सुग्रीवस्य शतवलि-प्रेषणम्

Sugriva’s Commission to Satavali for the Northern Search

Devanagari script

इमानि वनदुर्गाणि नद्यश्शैलान्तराणि च।भवन्तः परिमार्गन्तु बुद्धिविक्रमसम्पदा।।।।

Transliteration

imāni vana-durgāṇi nadyaḥ śailāntarāṇi ca | bhavantaḥ parimārgantu buddhi-vikrama-sampadā ||

Translation

وأنتم الموهوبون بالحكمة والبأس، فتتبّعوا تفتيشًا تامًّا هذه المعاقل في الغابات، والأنهار، وما بين الجبال من سلاسل وممرّات.

Word by Word

• इमानि: these
• इमानि: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण (pronominal adjective), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; ‘these’ qualifying following nouns

• वनदुर्गाणि: forest-fastnesses, inaccessible forest regions
• वनदुर्गाणि: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन + दुर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (वने दुर्गाणि / वनस्य दुर्गाणि)

• नद्यः: rivers
• नद्यः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Vedic/epic usage: -यः for -ईः)

• शैलान्तराणि: mountain passes/valleys between mountains
• शैलान्तराणि: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैल + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (शैलानाम् अन्तराणि = mountain passes/intervals)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction), अव्यय

• भवन्तः: you (honored ones)
• भवन्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (honorific pronoun), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; संबोधनार्थे आदर (respectful ‘you’)

• परिमार्गन्तु: search, explore
• परिमार्गन्तु: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + मार्ग् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष? actually मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; विधिलिङ्/लोट् epic: ‘search!’

• बुद्धिविक्रमसम्पदा: with (your) wealth of wisdom and prowess
• बुद्धिविक्रमसम्पदा: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बुद्धि + विक्रम + सम्पद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः (बुद्धि-विक्रम-सम्पद्) तत्पुरुषः; ‘with the wealth of wisdom and valor’

Context

'O monkeys the auspicious rivers with cool waters flow towards the western region. Search in the groves inhabited by ascetics, other forests, mountains, cliffs, in the desertland. Search in the inaccessible western region surrounded by mountains. Then proceed to the western ocean infested with whales and alligators, which cannot be easily disturbed.

Characters & Entities

• Sugriva
• rivers

FAQs

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

Dharma is diligent effort in service: one must use both buddhi (discernment) and vikrama (courage) to fulfill a righteous mission.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva instructs the newly tasked troop to conduct a comprehensive search across difficult natural terrains.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sāhasa with viveka: bravery guided by intelligence.