Shloka 57

Devanagari script

महर्षयो धर्मतपोऽभिकामाःकामानुकामाः प्रतिबद्धमोहाः।अयं प्रकृत्या चपलः कपिस्तुकथं न सज्जेत सुखेषु राजा।।।।

Transliteration

maharṣayō dharmatapō ’bhikāmāḥ kāmānukāmāḥ pratibaddhamōhāḥ |

ayaṁ prakṛtyā capalaḥ kapis tu kathaṁ na sajjēta sukhēṣu rājā ||

Translation

大いなるリシたちでさえ、dharma と tapas を愛する者であっても、ときに欲に従い、迷いに縛られる。ましてやこの王は猿であり、生来移ろいやすい。どうして快楽に染まらずにいられようか。

Word by Word

• महर्षयः: great sages
• महर्षयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महर्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• धर्मतपः-अभिकामाः: desirous of dharma and austerity
• धर्मतपः-अभिकामाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + तपस् (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिकाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः: धर्मतपः (द्वन्द्व/समाहार-भावः) + अभिकामाः (तत्पुरुषः: धर्मतपः-अभिकामाः = धर्मतपसि अभिकामाः)

• काम-अनुकामाः: pursuing desires (sensual)
• काम-अनुकामाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुकाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (कामान् अनुकामाः = desires following desires)

• प्रतिबद्धमोहाः: whose delusion is bound (entangled)
• प्रतिबद्धमोहाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतिबद्ध (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √बन्ध् धातु) + मोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (प्रतिबद्धः मोहः यस्य/ये = delusion bound/fastened)

• अयम्: this (man)
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (Pronoun)

• प्रकृत्या: by nature
• प्रकृत्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे (in the sense of 'by nature')

• चपलः: restless
• चपलः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चपल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कपिः: monkey
• कपिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक (contrast/emphasis)

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

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

• सज्जेत: would become attached / be involved
• सज्जेत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √सञ्ज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada)

• सुखेषु: in pleasures
• सुखेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), बहुवचन

• राजा: king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

'Even sages committed to piety and austerity are sometimes deluded by sensual gratification. He is a king and a monkey who is fickle by nature. How can he be not tempted by sensual pleasures'?

Characters & Entities

• Tārā
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Sugrīva
• maharṣis

FAQs

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

The verse teaches realistic moral psychology: temptation can affect even the disciplined; dharma therefore demands vigilance and compassionate correction rather than self-righteous rage.

What is the narrative situation?

Tārā explains Sugrīva’s indulgence as a common vulnerability, attempting to soften Lakṣmaṇa’s anger and preserve the alliance.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Pragmatic wisdom—acknowledging frailty while still steering conduct back toward duty.