Shloka 14

तारोपदेशः

Tara’s Counsel to Vali on Sugriva’s Roar and Rama’s Alliance

Devanagari script

प्रकृत्या निपुणश्चैव बुद्धिमांश्चैव वानरः।अपरीक्षितवीर्येण सुग्रीवस्सहनैष्यति।।।।

Transliteration

prakṛtyā nipuṇaś caiva buddhimāṃś caiva vānaraḥ |

aparīkṣita-vīryeṇa sugrīvas sakhyaṃ naiṣyati || 4.15.14 ||

Translation

Sugrīva, der Affe, ist von Natur aus gewandt und klug; er wird keine Freundschaft mit einem Verbündeten schließen, dessen Kraft nicht erprobt ist.

Word by Word

• प्रकृत्या: by nature
• प्रकृत्या: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनम्; हेतौ/प्रकारे—"by nature"

• निपुणः: skilled
• निपुणः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निपुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्—वानरः प्रति

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम्

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्ययम् (indeed/just)

• बुद्धिमान्: intelligent
• बुद्धिमान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बुद्धिमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्—वानरः प्रति

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम्

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्ययम्

• वानरः: the monkey (Sugriva)
• वानरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• अपरीक्षित-वीर्येण: with untested prowess
• अपरीक्षित-वीर्येण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-परि-ईक्ष् (धातु) + वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः—अपरीक्षितं वीर्यं यस्य (untested prowess) / or "with untested prowess (of the other)"; instrumental of circumstance

• सुग्रीवः: Sugriva
• सुग्रीवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुग्रीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• सख्यम्: friendship
• सख्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्ययम्

• एष्यति: will enter into / will make
• एष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकारः (Simple Future), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; idiom: "will enter into/attain"

Context

'Sugriva is clever by nature. He is wise. Without assessing the ability of the ally he will not enter into friendship.

Characters & Entities

• Vāli
• Sugrīva

FAQs

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

Dharma includes prudent discernment in forming alliances: friendship and reliance should be grounded in proven capability and trustworthy testing, not mere hope.

What is the narrative situation?

Vāli concludes that Sugrīva must have verified a strong ally before returning to challenge him again.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Practical intelligence (buddhi) and strategic caution in choosing partners.