Shloka 37

हनूमत्संवादः / Hanuman’s Diplomatic Approach to Rama and Lakshmana

Devanagari script

विदितौ नौ गुणा विद्वंत्सुग्रीवस्य महात्मनः।तमेव चाऽवां मार्गावस्सुग्रीवं प्लवगेश्वरम्।।

Transliteration

viditau nau guṇā vidvan sugrīvasya mahātmanaḥ |

tam eva cāvāṃ mārgāvas sugrīvaṃ plavageśvaram ||

Translation

ഹേ പണ്ഡിതനേ, മഹാത്മാവായ സുഗ്രീവന്റെ ഗുണങ്ങൾ ഞങ്ങൾക്കറിയാം; ഞങ്ങൾ അന്വേഷിക്കുന്നത് വാനരേശ്വരനായ സുഗ്രീവനെയത്രേ.

Word by Word

• viditau: are known (to both)
• viditau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vid (विद् धातु) + ta (क्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle) विशेष-प्रयोगः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; guṇāḥ इत्यस्य विधेय-विशेषण (known)

• nau: to us two
• nau: Sampradana (सम्प्रदानम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-द्विवचन-रूप (Genitive/Dative dual) ‘to/of us two’; अत्र ‘to us two’ (सम्प्रदानार्थे)

• guṇāḥ: qualities
• guṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• vidvan: O learned one
• vidvan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधनम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidvas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• sugrīvasya: of Sugriva
• sugrīvasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sugrīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• mahātmanaḥ: of the great-souled
• mahātmanaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; sugrīvasya इति विशेषणार्थे

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• eva: only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (only/indeed)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• āvām: we two
• āvām: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative/प्रथमा), द्विवचन

• mārgāvaḥ: seek/search for
• mārgāvaḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √mṛg/√mārg (मार्ग् धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, द्विवचन; परस्मैपद

• sugrīvam: Sugriva
• sugrīvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sugrīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; tam इत्यस्य अप्पोजिशन

• plavageśvaram: lord of monkeys
• plavageśvaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: plavaga (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; sugrīvam इति विशेषण; समासः: प्लवगानाम् ईश्वरः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Context

'O learned Hanuman! having heard about the virtues of great Sugriva, lord of the monkeys, we eagerly look forward to meeting him;

Characters & Entities

• Sugriva
• plavageśvara (lord of monkeys)

FAQs

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

Truthful disclosure of intent: dharmic conduct in negotiations begins with clarity—stating one’s purpose without deceit.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakshmana informs Hanuman that they have come specifically to meet Sugriva, indicating readiness for a rightful alliance.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Satya (truthfulness) combined with respect—acknowledging Sugriva’s known virtues before seeking him.