Shloka 1

लङ्कादाह-प्रचोदनं तथा वानर-राक्षस-समरारम्भः

The Burning of Lanka and the Outbreak of Battle

Devanagari script

ततोऽब्रवीन्महातेजास्सुग्रीवोवानराधिपः ।अर्थ्यंविज्ञापयंश्चापिहनूमन्तमिदंवचः ।।।।

Transliteration

tato 'bravīn mahātejāḥ sugrīvo vānarādhipaḥ | arthyaṃ vijñāpayaṃś cāpi hanūmantam idaṃ vacaḥ ||

Translation

Entonces Sugrīva, el resplandeciente señor de los Vānaras, llamó a Hanumān para que atendiera; y, deseoso de comunicar un asunto importante, pronunció estas palabras.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रमवाचक

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• mahātejāḥ: the mighty/very radiant
• mahātejāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिः: महत् तेजः यस्य; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; adjective to sugrīvaḥ

• sugrīvaḥ: Sugriva
• sugrīvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sugrīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• vānarādhipaḥ: king of the vanaras
• vānarādhipaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara + adhipa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी): वानराणाम् अधिपः; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; apposition to sugrīvaḥ

• arthyam: a matter to be requested (a request)
• arthyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: arthya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘to be requested/important (matter)’ used as object with vijñāpayan

• vijñāpayan: informing/requesting
• vijñāpayan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√jñap (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle): विज्ञापयन्; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; agreeing with sugrīvaḥ

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अपि (also/even)

• hanūmantam: Hanuman
• hanūmantam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hanūmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifying vacaḥ

• vacaḥ: speech/words
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular

Context

Sugriva, the king of Vanaras called Hanuman to make him know the task ahead and said these words.

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• Hanumān
• Vānaras

FAQs

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

Dharma in leadership: a king communicates duties clearly and respectfully to capable agents for the welfare of the cause.

What is the narrative situation?

At the opening of the next chapter, Sugrīva summons Hanumān to convey an important instruction.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Responsible leadership and orderly command—Sugrīva’s deliberate, purposeful speech.