Shloka 6

मैत्रीप्रतिज्ञा-वैरकारणप्रश्नः

Friendship Vow and Inquiry into the Cause of Enmity

Devanagari script

महात्मनां तु भूयिष्ठं त्वद्विधानां कृतात्मनाम्।निश्चला भवति प्रीतिर्धैर्यमात्मवतामिव।।

Transliteration

mahātmanāṃ tu bhūyiṣṭhaṃ tvadvidhānāṃ kṛtātmanām | niścalā bhavati prītir dhairyam ātmavatām iva ||

Translation

إن المودّةَ عند العظماء، أهلِ تهذيب النفس أمثالك، تكون أشدَّ ثباتًا؛ راسخةً كصبرِ المنضبطين ووقارِهم.

Word by Word

महात्मनाम्of great-souled persons

तुindeed

भूयिष्ठम्exceedingly

त्वद्विधानाम्of those like you

कृतात्मनाम्of the self-controlled

निश्चलाsteady

भवतिbecomes

प्रीतिःaffection

धैर्यम्steadfastness

आत्मवताम्of the self-possessed

इवlike

Context

'The affection of exalted souls is exceedingly stable like the patience of self-controlled and well-composed men like you.

Characters & Entities

Sugrīva

Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma here is steadiness in goodwill: the noble and self-controlled do not let affection fluctuate with circumstances; their loyalty is anchored in inner discipline and truthfulness of intention.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva is consoling and assuring Rāma, presenting an ideal of noble friendship as the basis for their alliance.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Dhairya (fortitude) and kṛtātmatā (self-mastery), shown as the foundation that makes friendship unwavering.