Shloka 23

हनूमत्संवादः / Hanuman’s Diplomatic Approach to Rama and Lakshmana

Devanagari script

युवाभ्यां सह धर्मात्मा सुग्रीवस्सख्यमिच्छति।तस्य मां सचिवं वित्तं वानरं पवनात्मजम्4.3.22।।भिक्षुरूपप्रतिच्छन्नं सुग्रीवप्रियकाम्यया।ऋष्यमूकादिह प्राप्तं कामगं कामरूपिणम्4.3.23।।

Transliteration

yuvābhyāṃ saha dharmātmā sugrīvaḥ sakhyam icchati |

tasya māṃ sacivaṃ vittaṃ vānaraṃ pavanātmajam 4.3.22 ||

bhikṣurūpapraticchannaṃ sugrīvapriyakāmyayā |

ṛṣyamūkād iha prāptaṃ kāmagaṃ kāmarūpiṇam 4.3.23 ||

Translation

Sugrīva, von rechtschaffener Natur, wünscht Freundschaft mit euch beiden. Erkennt mich als seinen Minister, den Vānara, Sohn des Windgottes; ich kam von Ṛṣyamūka hierher, im Gewand eines Bettelmönchs verborgen, um Sugrīvas Wohl zu suchen—frei zu wandern und die Gestalt nach Belieben zu wechseln.

Word by Word

• भिक्षुरूपप्रतिच्छन्नम्: disguised as a mendicant
• भिक्षुरूपप्रतिच्छन्नम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भिक्षु + रूप + प्रति-√छद् (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः (भिक्षोः रूपम् इव) + कृदन्त ‘प्रतिच्छन्न’ (क्त, concealed); अर्थः ‘disguised in mendicant form’

• सुग्रीवप्रियकाम्यया: for (the sake of) Sugriva’s welfare/pleasure
• सुग्रीवप्रियकाम्यया: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुग्रीव + प्रिय + काम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सुग्रीवस्य प्रियं काम्यते इति/सुग्रीवप्रियस्य काम्यया)

• ऋष्यमूकात्: from Rishyamuka
• ऋष्यमूकात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋष्यमूक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (पर्वतनाम), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• प्राप्तम्: arrived
• प्राप्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-√आप् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; क्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘arrived/reached’

• कामगम्: able to go at will
• कामगम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम + ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कामेन गच्छति = goes at will)

• कामरूपिणम्: able to assume forms at will
• कामरूपिणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम + रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कामं रूपं यस्य = having forms at will)

Context

'The righteous Sugriva wishes to make friendship with both of you. For his wellbeing I came here disguised as a mendicant from Rishyamuka mountain. I am a monkey, son of the Windgod and minister to Sugriva. I can assume any form at my free will and go anywhere I like'.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Sugrīva
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Pavana/Māruta
• Ṛṣyamūka

FAQs

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

Truthful self-disclosure and righteous intent in forming alliances—dharma-based friendship begins with transparency and benevolent purpose.

What is the narrative situation?

A repeated/continued formulation of Hanumān’s introduction and Sugrīva’s proposal, preserved in this recension’s numbering.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reliability as a messenger—Hanumān reiterates credentials to ensure clarity and trust.