Shloka 2

किष्किन्धाकाण्डे द्वात्रिंशः सर्गः

Lakshmana’s Anger Reported; Hanuman Advises Propitiation and Timely Mobilization

Devanagari script

सचिवानब्रवीद्वाक्यं निश्चित्य गुरुलाघवम्।मन्त्रज्ञान्मन्त्रकुशलो मन्त्रेषु परिनिष्ठितान्।।

Transliteration

sacivān abravīd vākyaṃ niścitya gurulāghavam | mantrajñān mantrakuśalo mantreṣu pariniṣṭhitān ||

Translation

Sugrīva, habile en conseil, après avoir pesé le lourd et le léger, adressa la parole à ses ministres, connaisseurs de la conduite politique et fermement établis dans la délibération.

Word by Word

• सचिवान्: ministers
• सचिवान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सचिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), बहुवचन

• अब्रवीत्: spoke
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वाक्यम्: words/speech
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• निश्चित्य: having decided
• निश्चित्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नि + चि (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund/त्वान्त), ‘having ascertained/decided’

• गुरु-लाघवम्: the pros and cons
• गुरु-लाघवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + लाघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (merits and demerits)

• मन्त्रज्ञान्: counsel-knowing (wise in counsel)
• मन्त्रज्ञान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मन्त्रस्य ज्ञानम् येषाम्/मन्त्र-ज्ञ)

• मन्त्रकुशलः: skilled in counsel
• मन्त्रकुशलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + कुशल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (मन्त्रेषु कुशलः)

• मन्त्रेषु: in counsels/strategies
• मन्त्रेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), बहुवचन

• परिनिष्ठितान्: fully accomplished
• परिनिष्ठितान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि + नि + स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘well-established/fully trained’

Context

'To remove your fear and to please you, the great hero Rama has killed Vali, an equal to Indra in valour.

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• ministers (sacivāḥ)

FAQs

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

Rājadharma: a ruler must make decisions after discerning relative merits and harms, relying on competent counsel rather than impulse.

What is the narrative situation?

In Kiṣkindhā, as tensions rise due to delayed action on Rāma’s mission, Sugrīva turns to his council, indicating a formal moment of governance and decision-making.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and deliberation—Sugrīva’s capacity to weigh consequences and consult trained advisers.