Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

अहो शाखामृगत्वं ते व्यक्तमेव प्लवङ्गम।लघुचित्ततयाऽत्मानं न स्थापयसि यो मतौ।।

Transliteration

aho śākhāmṛgatvaṃ te vyaktam eva plavaṅgama | laghucittatayātmānaṃ na sthāpayasi yo matau ||

Translation

Ah, O monkey—your ‘tree-dwelling’ nature is indeed plain to see: with a fickle mind, you cannot keep yourself steady in resolve.

Word by Word

• aho: alas/oh
• aho: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aho (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (exclamation particle)

• śākhā-mṛgatvam: monkey-nature (tree-animal-ness)
• śākhā-mṛgatvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śākhā + mṛga + tva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (शाखासु मृगः इव भावः), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• te: your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• vyaktam: clearly
• vyaktam: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vyakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् प्रयोगः (clearly)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• plavaṅgama: O monkey
• plavaṅgama: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: plavaṅgama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• laghu-cittatayā: due to fickle-mindedness
• laghu-cittatayā: Hetu/Instrument (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: laghu + citta + tā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (लघुं चित्तं यस्य/लघुचित्तस्य भावः), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• ātmānam: yourself
• ātmānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• sthāpayasi: you keep/establish
• sthāpayasi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रत्ययान्त causative (स्थापयति), लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• matau: in (your) mind/resolve
• matau: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Hanuman
• Sugriva

FAQs

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

Dharma requires steadiness of mind; impulsiveness and wavering resolve obstruct right action and wise decision-making.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān mildly admonishes Sugrīva for restlessness, urging him to be mentally firm rather than panic-stricken.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Mental discipline and steadiness (sthiti/dhairya) as a prerequisite for dharmic action.