Shloka 2

औषधिपर्वताहरणम् / The Retrieval of the Herb

Bearing Mountain

Devanagari script

ततोविषण्णंसमवेक्ष्यसैन्यंविभीषणोबुद्धिमतांवरिष्ठः ।उवाचशाखमृगराजवीरानाश्वासयन्नप्रतिमैर्वचोभिः ।।6.74.2।।

Transliteration

tato viṣaṇṇaṃ samavekṣya sainyaṃ vibhīṣaṇo buddhimatāṃ variṣṭhaḥ |

uvāca śākhāmṛgarājavīrān āśvāsayan apratimair vacobhiḥ ||6.74.2||

Translation

അപ്പോൾ ബുദ്ധിമാന്മാരിൽ ശ്രേഷ്ഠനായ വിഭീഷണൻ, വിഷണ്ണമായ സൈന്യത്തെ കണ്ടു, ശാഖാമൃഗരാജന്മാരെപ്പോലെയുള്ള വീര വാനരനായകരോടു അപരിമിതമായ വചനങ്ങളാൽ ആശ്വാസം പകര்ந்து സംസാരിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (ततस्; अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb, ‘thereafter’

• viṣaṇṇam: despondent
• viṣaṇṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viṣaṇṇa (विषण्ण; √sad? with vi-, adjectival)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative singular agreeing with sainyam

• samavekṣya: having observed
• samavekṣya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ava-īkṣ (सम् + अव + ईक्ष् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ‘having observed’

• sainyam: the army
• sainyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sainya (सैन्य; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative singular (object of samavekṣya)

• vibhīṣaṇaḥ: Vibhishana
• vibhīṣaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhīṣaṇa (विभीषण; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Proper noun, Masculine, Nominative singular

• buddhimatām: of the wise
• buddhimatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: buddhimat (बुद्धिमत्; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive plural

• variṣṭhaḥ: the foremost
• variṣṭhaḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: variṣṭha (वरिष्ठ; superlative of vṛddha/vara)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative singular; superlative (तमप्)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• śākhāmṛgarāja-vīrān: the heroic monkey leaders
• śākhāmṛgarāja-vīrān: Karma (कर्म; addressee/object of speech)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śākhāmṛga (शाखामृग) + rāja (राज) + vīra (वीर)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa ‘heroic kings among the tree-dwelling monkeys’; Masculine, Accusative plural

• āśvāsayan: reassuring
• āśvāsayan: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; concomitant)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-śvas (आ + श्वस् धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative singular; ‘reassuring’

• apratimaiḥ: incomparable
• apratimaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apratima (अप्रतिम; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental plural agreeing with vacobhiḥ

• vacobhiḥ: with words
• vacobhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (वचस्; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental plural

Context

Vibheeshana and Hanuman seeing the ocean of Vanara army and the glowing arrows on them, looked for Jambavantha.

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Vānara army
• Vānara leaders

FAQs

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

Dharmic leadership includes strengthening others in crisis—offering reassurance, clarity, and steadiness rather than despair.

What is the narrative situation?

After a difficult phase of battle, the vānaras are downcast; Vibhīṣaṇa addresses and encourages their leaders.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vibhīṣaṇa’s wisdom and compassionate counsel—he supports allies with timely, uplifting speech.