Shloka 21

मैत्रीप्रतिष्ठा

Rama–Sugriva Alliance and Fire-Rite of Friendship

Devanagari script

ततः प्रहृष्टस्सुग्रीवः श्लक्ष्णं मधुरया गिरा4.5.21।।प्रत्युवाच तदा रामं हर्षव्याकुललोचनः।

Transliteration

tataḥ prahṛṣṭaḥ sugrīvaḥ ślakṣṇaṃ madhurayā girā | pratyuvāca tadā rāmaṃ harṣavyākulalocanaḥ ||4.5.21||

Translation

പിന്നീട് അത്യന്തം പ്രസന്നനായ സുഗ്രീവൻ, ഹർഷം നിറഞ്ഞ കണ്ണുകളോടെ, മൃദുവും മധുരവുമായ വാക്കുകളാൽ അപ്പോൾ രാമനോട് മറുപടി പറഞ്ഞു.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, कालार्थक

• prahṛṣṭaḥ: overjoyed
• prahṛṣṭaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√hṛṣ (धातु) + kta (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of sugrīvaḥ)

• sugrīvaḥ: Sugriva
• sugrīvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sugrīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ślakṣṇam: gently
• ślakṣṇam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ślakṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणवत् नपुंसक-द्वितीया-एकवचन प्रयोगः (adverbial accusative: gently/softly)

• madhurayā: with sweet
• madhurayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: madhura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of girā)

• girā: speech/voice
• girā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gir (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (Instrumental, Singular)

• pratyuvāca: replied
• pratyuvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-√vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• tadā: at that time
• tadā: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb: then/at that time)

• rāmam: to Rama
• rāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• harṣa-vyākula-locanaḥ: with eyes trembling with joy
• harṣa-vyākula-locanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: harṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + vyākula (प्रातिपदिक) + locana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (whose eyes are agitated with joy), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of sugrīvaḥ)

Context

Then Sugriva, eyes sparkling with joy, replied to Rama in a sweet, gentle voice.

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Truthful and courteous speech: Sugrīva’s gentle reply models dharmic communication—respectful words that build trust in a righteous partnership.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva, encouraged by the meeting with Rāma, begins his response, emotionally relieved and hopeful.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sugrīva’s humility and sincerity, shown through sweet, respectful speech.