Shloka 20

द्वितीयः सर्गः (Sarga 2): Sugriva’s Alarm and Hanuman’s Commission

Devanagari script

दीर्घबाहू विशालाक्षौ शरचापासिधारिणौ।कस्य न स्याद्भयं दृष्ट्वा ह्येतौ सुरसुतोपमौ।।

Transliteration

dīrghabāhū viśālākṣau śaracāpāsidhāriṇau | kasya na syād bhayaṃ dṛṣṭvā hy etau surasutopamau ||

Translation

長い腕に大きな眼、矢と弓と剣を携える――天の神々の子にも比すべきこの二人を見て、誰が恐れずにいられようか。

Word by Word

• दीर्घबाहू: (the two) long-armed
• दीर्घबाहू: कर्ता-विशेषण (Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीर्घ + बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), द्विवचन (Dual); कर्मधारय-समास (दीर्घौ बाहू यस्य/ययोः)

• विशालाक्षौ: (the two) large-eyed
• विशालाक्षौ: कर्ता-विशेषण (Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशाल + अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (विशाले अक्षिणी ययोः)

• शरचापासिधारिणौ: (the two) wielding arrows, bow, and sword
• शरचापासिधारिणौ: कर्ता-विशेषण (Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शर + चाप + असि + धारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (शर-चाप-असि-धारिणौ = bearing arrows, bow, and sword)

• कस्य: of whom/whose
• कस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive: 'of whom')
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक-सर्वनाम

• न: not
• न: निपात (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• स्यात्: would be/arise
• स्यात्: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भयम्: fear
• भयम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund); ‘having seen’

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle; emphasis/causal nuance)

• एतौ: these two
• एतौ: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; संकेतवाचक-सर्वनाम

• सुरसुतोपमौ: comparable to divine sons
• सुरसुतोपमौ: कर्ता-विशेषण (Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुर + सुत + उपम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (सुरसुतैः उपमौ = comparable to sons of gods)

Context

'Who would not be apprehensive of these two long-armed and large-eyed individuals comparable to sons of gods wielding arrows, bows and swords.

Characters & Entities

• Sugriva
• Hanuman
• Rama
• Lakshmana

FAQs

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

It is dharmic to acknowledge natural fear in the face of power, yet channel it into careful inquiry rather than rash judgment.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva explains why the sight of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa—armed and radiant—can reasonably cause apprehension.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence (sāvadhānatā) and realistic assessment of circumstances.