Shloka 23

Devanagari script

ततो दाशरथि: श्रीमान्‌ सुग्रीव॑ प्रत्यभाषत । मध्ये वानरमुख्यानां प्राप्तकालमिदं वच:,तत्पश्चात्‌ मुख्य-मुख्य वानरोंके बीचमें बैठे हुए दशरथनन्दन भगवान्‌ श्रीरामने सुग्रीवसे यह समयोचित बात कही--

Transliteration

tato dāśarathiḥ śrīmān sugrīvaṃ pratyabhāṣata | madhye vānarāmukhyānāṃ prāptakālam idaṃ vacaḥ ||

Translation

Then the illustrious son of Daśaratha, Rāma, addressed Sugrīva. Seated in the midst of the foremost of the Vānara leaders, he spoke words timely to the occasion.

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

दाशरथिःthe son of Daśaratha (Rāma)

श्रीमान्glorious, illustrious

सुग्रीवम्Sugrīva

प्रत्यभाषतaddressed, spoke to

मध्येin the midst

वानरमुख्यानाम्of the chief monkeys

प्राप्तकालम्timely, appropriate to the occasion

इदम्this

वचःspeech, words

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Rāma (Dāśarathi)

Daśaratha

Sugrīva

Vānara chiefs (vānarāmukhyāḥ)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kāla-jñāna—speaking what is appropriate to the moment. Ethical leadership is shown through measured, timely counsel delivered in a public assembly for the good of the alliance and the community.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya narrates that Rāma, seated among the leading Vānara chiefs, addresses Sugrīva with an opportune statement, setting up the next instruction or request within their alliance.