Valmiki Ramayana 1.1.71: Bala Kanda, Sarga 1, Shloka 71

श्रीमद्रामायणकथासङ्क्षेपः / The Ramayana in Synopsis

Narada’s Summary to Valmiki

Setting: Kiṣkindhā (command center implied)Places named: all directions (diśaḥ)Search expedition begins; scouts dispatched to all directions

Devanagari script

स च सर्वान्समानीय वानरान्वानरर्षभः ।

दिशः प्रस्थापयामास दिदृक्षुर्जनकात्मजाम् ॥७१॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 1.1.71

Transliteration

sa ca sarvān samānīya vānarān vānararṣabhaḥ |

diśaḥ prasthāpayāmāsa didṛkṣur janakātmajām ||71||

Translation

सुग्रीव ने सारे वानरों को इकठ्ठा किया। वो वानरों का बड़ा लीडर था। फिर उन्हें चारों तरफ भेजा, जनक की बेटी सीता को ढूँढने के लिए।

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Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• sarvān: all
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन); used adjectivally qualifying vānarān
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• samānīya: having assembled
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√nī (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ‘having brought together/summoned’
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• vānarān: monkeys
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• vānararṣabhaḥ: best of monkeys
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara + ṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘vānarāṇām ṛṣabhaḥ’); Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• diśaḥ: directions
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• prasthāpayāmāsa: dispatched/sent forth
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√sthā (धातु)
• Form: Causative (णिच्) + Periphrastic perfect (लिट्/परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• didṛkṣuḥ: desirous to see
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Desiderative adjective (सन्नन्त/इच्छार्थक), Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; qualifying saḥ/vānararṣabhaḥ
• Role: Hetu/Prayojana (हेतु/प्रयोजन)

• janakātmajām: Janaka's daughter (Sītā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janaka + ātmajā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘janakasya ātmajā’); Feminine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

Sandhi Notes

• सर्वान्समानीय → सर्वान् + समानीय
• वानरान्वानरर्षभः → वानरान् + वानरर्षभः
• दिदृक्षुर्जनकात्मजाम् → दिदृक्षुः + जनकात्मजाम् (visarga sandhi)

Context

The best of monkeys (Sugriva) gathered his monkey forces and despatched them in various directions in search of Janaka's daughter (Sita).

The teaching

Leadership expresses dharma through organized service—mobilizing collective effort for a righteous cause.

Ethical theme

Sevā-dharma / leadership ethics

For your practice

In bhakti framing, cooperative service (kainkarya) toward the Lord’s purpose; cultivating readiness and discipline.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Vira (heroism), with Adbhuta (wonder)

Mood

Mobilizing, urgent, hopeful

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Itihasa
• Duty
• Leadership
• Search for Sītā

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• Vānara
• Sītā
• Janaka

FAQs

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

Dharma here is organized duty in service of a just cause: Sugrīva mobilizes resources responsibly to aid Rāma in the righteous task of locating Sītā.

What is the narrative situation?

After alliance with Rāma, Sugrīva gathers the Vānara forces and sends search parties in all directions to locate Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sugrīva’s leadership and commitment to alliance-dharma (keeping faith with Rāma by acting decisively).