Shloka 3

Devanagari script

नैव चक्रे मनः स्थातुं वीक्षमाणो महाबलौ।कपेः परमभीतस्य चित्तं व्यवससाद ह।।

Transliteration

naiva cakre manaḥ sthātuṃ vīkṣamāṇo mahābalau | kapeḥ paramabhītasya cittaṃ vyavasasāda ha ||

Translation

Ao ver os dois poderosos heróis, o macaco Sugrīva não conseguiu acalmar sua mente; dominado pelo medo, seu coração se abateu.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; negation particle

• eva: indeed/at all
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic particle (निपात)

• cakre: made, managed
• cakre: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ) (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); ātmanepada; idiom: 'manaḥ cakre' = made (it)

• manaḥ: mind
• manaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• sthātum: to remain steady
• sthātum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sthā (स्था) (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्)

• vīkṣamāṇaḥ: while observing
• vīkṣamāṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + √īkṣ (ईक्ष्) (धातु)
• Form: Present middle participle (शानच्), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying (sugrīvaḥ understood)

• mahābalau: the two very strong (men)
• mahābalau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Dual (द्विवचन); बहुव्रीहि: 'mahat balaṃ yayor asti' referring to rāma-lakṣmaṇau

• kapeḥ: of the monkey (Sugriva)
• kapeḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• parama-bhītasya: of the extremely frightened
• parama-bhītasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + bhīta (कृदन्त, क्त from √bhī (भी))
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय: 'paramaḥ bhītaḥ' qualifying kapeḥ

• cittam: mind
• cittam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: citta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• vyavasasāda: sank, became dejected
• vyavasasāda: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-ava + √sad (सद्) (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• ha: indeed
• ha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (निपात) used for emphasis/narrative tone

Context

'O best of monkeys! ascertain their purpose by praising them and studying their honest intentions. Gain the confidence of the wielders of bows and if you find them agreeable, enquire the purpose of their entering this forest.

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa

FAQs

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

The verse highlights inner struggle: fear can destabilize judgment, so dharma requires regaining mental steadiness before acting or accusing others.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva sees Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa approaching and, due to his insecurity and conflict with Vāli, becomes frightened and anxious.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The implied virtue is self-control (dama): the need to stabilize the mind despite fear.