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

ಹೇ ರಾಘವ, ಅಗ್ನಿಸಾಕ್ಷಿಯಾಗಿ ನಡೆದ ಮಿತ್ರಬಂಧದಿಂದ ರಾಘವವಂಶಜನಾದ ನಿನ್ನನ್ನು ಮಿತ್ರನಾಗಿ ಪಡೆದ ಮೇಲೆ, ನಾನು ನನ್ನ ಬಂಧುಗಳಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಸುಹೃದರಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಸಮಾನ ಗೌರವಕ್ಕೆ ಪಾತ್ರನಾಗಿದ್ದೇನೆ.

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.