Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 4, Shloka 21

समुद्रतट-प्रयाणम् तथा वेलावन-निवेशः

March to the Seacoast and Encampment at the Shore

Devanagari script

राघवस्य वचश्श्रुत्वा सुग्रीवो वाहिनीपतिः ।व्यादिदेश महावीर्यो वानरान्वानरर्षभ ः ।।।।

Transliteration

rāghavasya vacaḥ śrutvā sugrīvo vāhinīpatiḥ | vyādideśa mahāvīryo vānarān vānararṣabhaḥ ||

Translation

Als Sugrīva, der Heerführer, der Stier unter den Vānaras, Rāghavas Worte vernahm, erteilte jener große Held den Vānaras seine Befehle.

Word by Word

• राघवस्य: of Rāghava (Rāma)
• राघवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• वचः: the words
• वचः: Karma (कर्म/Object of hearing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; 'words/speech'

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (Absolutive), अव्यय: 'having heard'

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

• वाहिनी-पतिः: commander of the army
• वाहिनी-पतिः: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाहिनी (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: 'वाहिन्याः पतिः' (lord of the army)

• व्यादिदेश: ordered
• व्यादिदेश: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-आ-दिś् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; 'commanded/ordered'

• महा-वीर्यः: very valorous
• महा-वीर्यः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (पूर्वपद) + वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: 'महद् वीर्यं यस्य' (of great prowess)

• वानरान्: the vanaras
• वानरान्: Karma (कर्म/Object of ordering)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• वानर-ऋषभः: bull among vanaras
• वानर-ऋषभः: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'bull among vanaras' (epithet of Sugrīva)

Context

Sugriva the bull among vanaras having heard the words of Raghava ordered the heroic vanaras (to start).

Characters & Entities

• Rāghava (Rāma)
• Sugrīva
• vānaras

FAQs

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

Dharma is disciplined cooperation: rightful commands are received and implemented without ego, enabling a just cause to proceed effectively.

What is the narrative situation?

After Rāma gives instructions, Sugrīva formally relays orders to mobilize the vānaras.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sugrīva’s loyalty and administrative competence as army-leader.