Shloka 4

द्वितीयः सर्गः (Sarga 2): Sugriva’s Alarm and Hanuman’s Commission

Devanagari script

चिन्तयित्वा स धर्मात्मा विमृश्य गुरुलाघवम्।सुग्रीवः परमोद्विग्नस्सर्वैरनुचरैस्सह।।

Transliteration

cintayitvā sa dharmātmā vimṛśya gurulāghavam | sugrīvaḥ paramodvignaḥ sarvair anucaraiḥ saha ||

Translation

Der rechtschaffene Sugrīva, tief aufgewühlt, dachte nach und wog zusammen mit all seinen Begleitern die Schwere und Leichtigkeit der Folgen ab.

Word by Word

• cintayitvā: having reflected
• cintayitvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √cint (चिन्त्) (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• dharmātmā: the righteous-souled one
• dharmātmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); बहुव्रीहि: 'dharmaḥ ātmā yasya'

• vimṛśya: having considered
• vimṛśya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + √mṛś (मृश्) (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्)

• guru-lāghavam: the pros and cons (relative weight)
• guru-lāghavam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक) + lāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); द्वन्द्व (itaretara): heaviness and lightness = relative importance/weight

• sugrīvaḥ: Sugriva
• sugrīvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sugrīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• parama-udvignaḥ: extremely agitated
• parama-udvignaḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + udvigna (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय qualifying sugrīvaḥ

• sarvaiḥ: with all
• sarvaiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifying anucaraiḥ

• anucaraiḥ: followers, attendants
• anucaraiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anucara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; postposition meaning 'with' (सह-योग)

Context

'O best of monkeys ascertain their purpose by praising them and studying their honest intentions. Gain the confidence of the wielders of bows and if you find them agreeable, enquire the purpose of their entering this forest.

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva

FAQs

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

Dharma includes deliberation: one should assess consequences (what is grave and what is minor) before choosing a course of action.

What is the narrative situation?

After being frightened by the sight of the two princes, Sugrīva consults and evaluates the situation with his followers.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and discernment (viveka): careful weighing of outcomes rather than impulsive reaction.