Shloka 20

पञ्चषष्टितमः सर्गः — वानराणां प्लवन-पराक्रम-निरूपणम्

Assessment of the Vanaras’ Leaping Capacity; Jambavan Motivates Hanuman

Devanagari script

तमुवाच हरिश्रेष्ठं जाम्बवान्वाक्यकोविदः।ज्ञायते गमने शक्तिस्तव हर्यृक्षसत्तम।।।।

Transliteration

tam uvāca hariśreṣṭhaṃ jāmbavān vākyakovidaḥ |

jñāyate gamane śaktis tava haryṛkṣasattama ||

Translation

وقال جَامبَفَان، البليغُ في القول، لذاك أفضلِ الفانارا: «يا أسمى القردة والدببة، إنّ قوتك على الذهاب معروفةٌ للجميع».

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

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

• हरिश्रेष्ठम्: best of monkeys
• हरिश्रेष्ठम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• जाम्बवान्: Jāmbavān
• जाम्बवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाम्बवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वाक्यकोविदः: skilled in speech
• वाक्यकोविदः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक) + कोविद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वाक्येषु कोविदः)

• ज्ञायते: is known
• ज्ञायते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोग (is known)

• गमने: in going/leaping
• गमने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरण

• शक्तिः: ability
• शक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तव: your
• तव: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• हर्यृक्षसत्तम: O best among monkeys and bears
• हर्यृक्षसत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व (हरि+ऋक्ष) ततः सत्तम-तत्पुरुष (श्रेष्ठतम)

Context

Jambavan who was skilful in speech spoke to that great Angada, 'O leader among monkeys and bears! your energy to cover this distance is well-known to us'.

Characters & Entities

• Jāmbavān
• Angada

FAQs

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

Right counsel grounded in truth (satya): Jāmbavān acknowledges Angada’s known capability, establishing an honest basis before advising what is proper for the mission.

What is the narrative situation?

In the assembly deciding who should leap across the ocean, Jāmbavān addresses Angada and recognizes his proven strength.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vākyakauśalya (skillful speech) used ethically—praise that is accurate and purposeful, not flattery.