Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 116, Shloka 44

Devanagari script

अयंव्याघ्रसमीपेतुपुराणोधर्मसंहितः ।।6.116.44।।ऋक्षेणगीतःश्लोकोऽस्तितंनिबोधप्लवङ्गम ।

Transliteration

ayaṃ vyāghra-samīpe tu purāṇo dharma-saṃhitaḥ | ṛkṣeṇa gītaḥ śloko 'sti taṃ nibodha plavaṅgama || 6.116.44 ||

Translation

„O Affe, es gibt einen alten Vers, im Einklang mit dem Dharma, den einst ein Bär in Gegenwart eines Tigers sang. Vernimm ihn.“

Word by Word

• ayam: this
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, masculine, nominative singular

• vyāghra-samīpe: near a tiger
• vyāghra-samīpe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyāghra (प्रातिपदिक) + samīpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter/masculine locative singular; tatpuruṣa 'vyāghrasya samīpaḥ'

• tu: indeed / but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• purāṇaḥ: ancient
• purāṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, nominative singular; qualifies ślokaḥ

• dharma-saṃhitaḥ: consistent with righteousness
• dharma-saṃhitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃhita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, nominative singular; tatpuruṣa 'dharmeṇa saṃhitaḥ' (in accordance with dharma)

• ṛkṣeṇa: by a bear
• ṛkṣeṇa: Karana (करण/agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, instrumental singular

• gītaḥ: sung / recited
• gītaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gai (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), masculine nominative singular; qualifies ślokaḥ

• ślokaḥ: verse
• ślokaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śloka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, nominative singular

• asti: is
• asti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person singular, parasmaipada

• tam: that
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, masculine accusative singular; object of nibodha

• nibodha: understand / learn
• nibodha: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: budh (धातु) + ni-
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person singular, parasmaipada

• plavaṅgama: O monkey
• plavaṅgama: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: plavaṅgama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, vocative singular

Context

"O Monkey! In olden days a bear had uttered a verse which conforms to righteousness. I shall tell you now."

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Hanumān
• Tiger (vyāghra)

FAQs

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

Dharma is taught through traditional exempla: Sītā introduces an instructive maxim to guide action away from impulsive wrongdoing.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā prepares to quote an old dharmic saying to Hanumān to shape his response toward the rākṣasīs.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Wisdom and pedagogical restraint—Sītā chooses counsel grounded in tradition rather than anger.