Shloka 17

Devanagari script

पद्मकेसरसङ्काशस्तरुणार्कनिभाननः।बुद्धिमान्वानरश्रेष्ठस्सर्ववानरसत्तमः।।4.39.17।।अनेकैर्बहुसाहस्रैर्वानराणां समन्वितः।पिता हनुमतश्रशीमान्केसरी प्रत्यदृश्यत।।4.39.18।।

Transliteration

padmakeśarasaṅkāśas taruṇārkanibhānanaḥ |

buddhimān vānaraśreṣṭhaḥ sarvavānarasattamaḥ || 4.39.17 ||

Translation

पद्मकेसरसङ्काशः तरुणार्कनिभाननः, बुद्धिमान् वानरश्रेष्ठः सर्ववानरसत्तमः सः॥

Word by Word

• पद्मकेसरसङ्काशः: resembling lotus filaments
• पद्मकेसरसङ्काशः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद्म + केसर + सङ्काश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—पद्मकेसरस्य सङ्काशः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; 'resembling lotus-filaments')

• तरुणार्कनिभाननः: whose face is like the young sun
• तरुणार्कनिभाननः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तरुण + अर्क + निभ + आनन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—तरुणार्कस्य निभं आननं यस्य (उपमान-तत्पुरुष/बहुव्रीह्यर्थसन्निकर्षः)

• बुद्धिमान्: wise
• बुद्धिमान्: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बुद्धिमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• वानरश्रेष्ठः: best of monkeys
• वानरश्रेष्ठः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—वानराणां श्रेष्ठः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• सर्ववानरसत्तमः: the finest among all monkeys
• सर्ववानरसत्तमः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + वानर + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—सर्वेषां वानराणां सत्तमः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Context

Then arrived Kesari, the wise and illustrious monkey, foremost and the best among vanaras, father of Hanuman. He was of the colour of lotus filaments and his countenance was red like the early morning Sun. He was accompanied by many thousands of monkeys.

Characters & Entities

• Kesari (introduced in next verse as the referent of these epithets)

FAQs

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

Dharma esteems wisdom and excellence used for rightful ends: the ideal leader is not merely strong, but बुद्धिमान (wise) and directed toward truth.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator describes the distinguished qualities and appearance of a great vānara leader, preparing for his identification as Keśarī.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Buddhi (discernment) allied with eminence—model leadership grounded in intelligence and moral purpose.