Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 35, Shloka 28

रामलक्षणवर्णनम्

Description of Rama and Lakshmana; Alliance Narrative to Sita

Devanagari script

स तौ दृष्ट्वा नरव्याघ्रौ धन्विनौ वानरर्षभः।अवप्लुतो गिरेस्तस्य शिखरं भयमोहितः।।।।

Transliteration

sa tau dṛṣṭvā naravyāghrau dhanvinau vānararṣabhaḥ |

avapluto gires tasya śikharaṃ bhayamohitaḥ ||5.35.28||

Translation

Seeing those two tiger-like men armed with bows, the bull among Vānaras—deluded by fear—leapt away upon that mountain toward its summit.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• tau: those two
• tau: Karma (कर्म/Object of seeing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), द्विवचन (Dual)

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (दृश्) (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal), 'having seen'

• naravyāghrau: two tigers among men
• naravyāghrau: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara + vyāghra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नराणां व्याघ्रौ), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), द्विवचन (Dual); tau इति विशेषणम्

• dhanvinau: armed with bows
• dhanvinau: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhanvin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), द्विवचन (Dual); 'bow-bearing'

• vānararṣabhaḥ: the bull among monkeys
• vānararṣabhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition to saḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara + ṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वानराणाम् ऋषभः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• avaplutaḥ: leapt down/jumped
• avaplutaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava + √plu (प्लु) (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past active participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• gireḥ: of/from the mountain
• gireḥ: Apadana/Sambandha (अपादान/सम्बन्ध; 'from/of the mountain')
• Type: Noun
• Root: giri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• tasya: of that
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• śikharam: the peak
• śikharam: Karma (कर्म/Object; goal/target)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śikhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• bhaya-mohitaḥ: bewildered by fear
• bhaya-mohitaḥ: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhaya (प्रातिपदिक) + mohita (√muh, मुह्) (धातु-कृदन्त)
• Form: समासः तत्पुरुष (भयेन मोहितः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (Singular)

Context

"Thereafter the lord of vanaras staying on the mountain top quickly sent me to meet both of them.

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Ṛśyamūka (implied by continuity)

FAQs

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

The verse cautions that fear can cloud judgment; dharma requires discernment before reacting, especially when encountering the unknown.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva, fearing danger, reacts defensively upon seeing two armed strangers (Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa).

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence (in a limited form): Sugrīva seeks safety first, reflecting the survival instinct of a displaced ruler.