Shloka 4

मैत्रीप्रतिज्ञा-वैरकारणप्रश्नः

Friendship Vow and Inquiry into the Cause of Enmity

Devanagari script

सोऽहं सभाज्यो बन्धूनां सुहृदां चैव राघव।यस्याग्निसाक्षिकं मित्रं लब्धं राघववंशजम्।।

Transliteration

so ’haṁ sabhājyo bandhūnāṁ suhṛdāṁ caiva rāghava |

yasyāgnisākṣikaṁ mitraṁ labdhaṁ rāghava-vaṁśajam ||

Translation

Wahai Raghava, karena aku telah memperoleh engkau—keturunan wangsa Raghava—sebagai sahabat dalam ikrar yang disaksikan api suci, maka aku menjadi layak dihormati setara di antara kerabat dan para sahabatku.

Word by Word

• सः: that (he)
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा (Nominative)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, एकवचन, प्रथमा (Nominative)

• सभाज्यः: worthy of honor
• सभाज्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa√bhaj (धातु) + ya → sabhājya (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त (gerundive/यत्), पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा; विधेय-विशेषण

• बन्धूनाम्: of relatives
• बन्धूनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bandhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, षष्ठी (Genitive)

• सुहृदाम्: of well-wishers/friends
• सुहृदाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suhṛd (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, षष्ठी (Genitive)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• राघव: O Raghava
• राघव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, सम्बोधन (Vocative)

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, एकवचन, षष्ठी (Genitive)

• अग्निसाक्षिकम्: with fire as witness
• अग्निसाक्षिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक) + sākṣika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अग्निः साक्षी यस्य/यत्र = with fire as witness); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; मित्रम् इति विशेषणम्

• मित्रम्: friend
• मित्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (Accusative)

• लब्धम्: obtained
• लब्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: labh (प्रातिपदिक; √labh धातु + kta)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; मित्रम् इति विशेषणम्

• राघववंशजम्: born in the Raghava lineage
• राघववंशजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक) + vaṃśa (प्रातिपदिक) + ja (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √jan)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (राघवस्य वंशः; तस्मात् जातः); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; मित्रम् इति विशेषणम्

Context

'My sorrow will go only with his death. My happiness and my life are also subject to his destruction.

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• Rāma (Rāghava)
• Agni (fire as witness)

FAQs

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

Dharma here centers on fidelity to a solemn pledge: friendship ratified with Agni as witness implies truthfulness (satya) and unwavering commitment.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva acknowledges the legitimacy and honor he gains after forming a formal friendship with Rāma, strengthening their alliance against Vāli.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sugrīva emphasizes loyalty and reverence for vowed friendship, treating the bond as socially and morally elevating.