Shloka 15

युद्धकाण्डे द्वितीयः सर्गः — Sugriva’s Counsel: From Grief to Strategy

Bridge to Lanka

Devanagari script

यत्तुकार्यंमनुष्येणशौण्डीर्यमवलम्बता ।अस्मिन् कालेमहाप्राज्ञसत्त्वमातिष्ठतेजसा ।।।।

Transliteration

yat tu kāryaṃ manuṣyeṇa śauṇḍīryam avalambatā |

asmin kāle mahāprājña sattvam ātiṣṭha tejasā ||

Translation

Toute tâche qu’un homme doit accomplir s’accomplit en s’appuyant sur une résolution héroïque; en cet instant, ô très sage, demeure ferme dans le courage et la force intérieure.

Word by Word

• yat: whatever/that which
• yat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/relative connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya usage of relative pronoun (यद्) introducing a clause: "whatever/that which"

• tu: but, however
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adversative/contrastive particle

• kāryam: task, duty
• kāryam: Karma (कर्म/object/thing to be done)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā/Dvitīyā (1st/2nd), Ekavacana; here as predicate/thing to be done

• manuṣyeṇa: by a man
• manuṣyeṇa: Karta (कर्ता/agent-instrumental: by a man)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manuṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā vibhakti (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana

• śauṇḍīryam: heroic spirit, boldness
• śauṇḍīryam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śauṇḍīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; object of "avalambatā" (relying on)

• avalambatā: relying on, depending on
• avalambatā: Karta (कर्ता/agent qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ava√lamb (धातु) + -tṛ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Kṛdanta: present active participial agent-noun (शतृ/तृच् sense), Tṛtīyā vibhakti, Ekavacana, Puṃliṅga; agreeing with "manuṣyeṇa": "by one relying on"

• asmin: in this
• asmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/locative qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī (7th), Ekavacana; with "kāle"

• kāle: at the time
• kāle: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī (7th), Ekavacana

• mahāprājña: O very wise one
• mahāprājña: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + prājña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana; karmadhāraya: "great + wise"

• sattvam: courage, steadfastness
• sattvam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; object of imperative "ātiṣṭha"

• ātiṣṭha: stand firm; take up
• ātiṣṭha: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā√sthā (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ lakāra (imperative/लोट्), Madhyama puruṣa (2nd person), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• tejasā: with vigor, with power
• tejasā: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana; instrumental of means

Context

"Just as heroism follows a human being in this world on accomplishing a task, you who are very wise, should resort to courage and valour and rise up."

FAQs

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

Dharma is timely action: wisdom must translate into courageous execution of duty, especially when others depend on the leader’s steadiness.

What is the narrative situation?

As the battle effort is being organized, Rāma is encouraged to adopt heroic resolve rather than remain weighed down by emotion.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fortitude (sattva) joined with tejas—calm strength that enables righteous action.