Valmiki Ramayana 5.1.139 — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 1, Shloka 139

समुद्रलङ्घनारम्भः

Commencement of the Ocean-Crossing

Devanagari script

उवाच वचनं धीमान् परितोषात्सगद्गदम्।सुनाभं पर्वतश्रेष्ठं स्वयमेव शचीपतिः।।।।

Transliteration

uvāca vacanaṃ dhīmān paritoṣāt sa-gadgadam | sunābhaṃ parvata-śreṣṭhaṃ svayam eva śacī-patiḥ ||

Translation

ततः शचीपतिः स्वयमेव धीमान् परितोषात् सगद्गदं वचनम् उवाच—पर्वतश्रेष्ठं सुनाभं प्रति॥

Word by Word

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

• vacanam: words, speech
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular

• dhīmān: the wise one
• dhīmān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhīmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular; adjective used substantively for Indra

• paritoṣāt: out of satisfaction
• paritoṣāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paritoṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (पञ्चमी) Singular; cause ‘from satisfaction’

• sa-gadgadam: with a choked voice
• sa-gadgadam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ) + gadgada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular; Karmadhāraya ‘with choked (voice/throat)’ qualifying vacanam

• sunābham: Sunābha
• sunābham: Sambodhya/Karma (सम्बोध्य/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sunābha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular; addressee/object of speech

• parvataśreṣṭham: best of mountains
• parvataśreṣṭham: Sambodhya/Karma (सम्बोध्य/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parvata (प्रातिपदिक) + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular; Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) ‘best of mountains’ in apposition to sunābham

• svayam: himself
• svayam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, reflexive adverb ‘himself’

• eva: indeed
• eva: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, emphatic particle (अवधारण)

• śacīpatiḥ: Śacī’s lord (Indra)
• śacīpatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śacī (प्रातिपदिक) + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular; Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) ‘husband of Śacī’ (Indra)

Context

Indra, the lord of Sachi, was personally satisfied and spoke to Mainaka, the best of mountains, in faltering tone, his throat choked out of joy.

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Śacī
• Parvata (mountain)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes gratitude expressed by leaders: Indra models righteous appreciation for support given to a noble mission.

What is the narrative situation?

Indra, moved with joy, addresses the mountain that has acted in support of Hanumān.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Grateful acknowledgment (kṛtajñatā) and benevolent authority.