Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 2, Shloka 17

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

Bridge to Lanka

Devanagari script

तत्त्वंबुद्धिमतांश्रेष्ठस्सर्वशास्त्रार्थकोविदः ।मद्विधैस्सचिवैस्सार्थमरिंजेतुमिहार्हसि ।।।।

Transliteration

tattvaṃ buddhimatāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ sarvaśāstrārtha-kovidaḥ |

madvidhaiḥ sacivaiḥ sārtham ariṃ jetum ihārhasi ||

Translation

Engkau sungguh yang utama di antara para bijak, mahir memahami makna semua śāstra; bersama para menteri dan sekutu sepertiku, engkau layak menaklukkan musuh di sini.

Word by Word

• tattvam: truth, reality
• tattvam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; object understood with speech: "(you know) the truth"

• buddhimatām: of the intelligent
• buddhimatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: buddhimat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (collective), Ṣaṣṭhī (6th), Bahuvacana; "of the intelligent"

• śreṣṭhaḥ: foremost
• śreṣṭhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; predicate adjective (addressing the listener)

• sarvaśāstrārthakovidaḥ: knower of all śāstra-meanings
• sarvaśāstrārthakovidaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva + śāstra + artha + kovida (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa chain: sarva-śāstra-artha-kovida = "knower of the meanings of all treatises"

• madvidhaiḥ: with (those) like me
• madvidhaiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/associate qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mad + vidha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa: mad-vidha = "like me"; qualifying "sacivaiḥ"

• sacivaiḥ: with ministers, allies
• sacivaiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/companions)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saciva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana

• sārdham: together with
• sārdham: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/association marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sārdham (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb meaning "together with" (governs instrumental)

• arim: enemy
• arim: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana

• jetum: to conquer
• jetum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ji (धातु) + tumun (कृदन्त)
• Form: Kṛdanta infinitive (तुमुन्): "to conquer"

• iha: here, now
• iha: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb of place/time

• arhasi: you are able/ought
• arhasi: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √arh (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra (present/लट्), Madhyama puruṣa, Ekavacana, parasmaipada; "you are fit/ought"

Context

"You are highly intelligent, foremost among those who are well-versed in the meaning of all shastras. You will conquer your enemy along with friends like me."

Characters & Entities

• Śāstra
• Enemy (Ari)
• Vibhīṣaṇa (speaker, implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma values righteous governance through counsel: even the best leader acts effectively by partnering with capable advisors devoted to truth (tattva) and justice.

What is the narrative situation?

An ally reassures Rāma that with proper counsel and unity, the enemy can be overcome in the coming conflict.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Wisdom guided by śāstra and openness to counsel—strength that is cooperative, not solitary.