Shloka 2

Devanagari script

उवाच राजा धर्मज्ञस्सर्ववानरसत्तमम्।वाक्यमात्म हितं चैव रामस्य च हितं तथा।।।।

Transliteration

uvāca rājā dharmajñaḥ sarva-vānara-sattamam |

vākyam ātma-hitaṃ caiva rāmasya ca hitaṃ tathā ||4.43.2||

Translation

وتكلّم الملك سُغريفَا (Sugrīva)، العارف بالدارما، إلى أفضل القِرَدة الفانارا (vānaras)، بكلامٍ يقصد به صلاحه هو، وبالمثل صلاح راما (Rāma).

Word by Word

• उवाच: said/spoke
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• धर्मज्ञः: knower of dharma
• धर्मज्ञः: Karta (कर्ता; राजा-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘राजा’

• सर्ववानरसत्तमम्: the best of all monkeys
• सर्ववानरसत्तमम्: Karma (कर्म; उवाच—कं प्रति)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + वानर + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सर्वेषां वानराणां सत्तमः); पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे कर्मरूपेण (object addressed)

• वाक्यम्: words/speech
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म; said words)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• आत्महितम्: beneficial to oneself
• आत्महितम्: Karma (कर्म; वाक्यम्-विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् + हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (आत्मनः हितम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘वाक्यम्’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction ‘and’)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (particle ‘indeed/just’)

• रामस्य: of Rama
• रामस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; whose welfare)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive); एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• हितम्: beneficial
• हितम्: Karma (कर्म; वाक्यम्-विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘वाक्यम्’ (understood: रामस्य हितम्)

• तथा: thus/also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb ‘thus/in that way’)

Context

'Search in the countries of Mlechas, Pulindas, Surasenas, Prasthalas, Bharatas, Madrakas, Kurus, Kambojas and even Yavanas, Shakas, Rattakas, Bahlikas, Rishikas, Pauravas, Tankanas, Cheenas, Paramacheenas, Niharas, Daradas and in the Himalaya mountains again and again in order to find her.

Characters & Entities

• Sugriva
• Rama

FAQs

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

Dharma here is leadership aligned with righteousness: a king speaks and plans not merely for personal advantage but for the just cause of aiding Rāma.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva begins issuing mission-guidance to the vānaras for the search for Sītā, framing the counsel as beneficial both to himself and to Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sugrīva’s prudence and dharma-minded leadership—he weighs actions by welfare, alliance-duty, and righteous purpose.