Shloka 3

Saptajana-āśrama Darśana and the Approach to Kiṣkindhā

Hermitage of Seven Sages; March toward Vāli’s Capital

Devanagari script

अग्रतस्तु ययौ तस्य राघवस्य महात्मनः।सुग्रीवः संहतग्रीवो लक्ष्मणश्च महाबलः।।

Transliteration

agratas tu yayau tasya rāghavasya mahātmanaḥ | sugrīvaḥ saṃhata-grīvo lakṣmaṇaś ca mahā-balaḥ ||

Translation

เบื้องหน้าพระราฆวะผู้มีมหาตมะนั้น สุครีวผู้คอหนาแน่นมั่นคงได้ก้าวไป และพระลักษมณ์ผู้ทรงมหาพลก็ไปด้วย

Word by Word

• अग्रतः: in front
• अग्रतः: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अग्रतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of place)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात (particle)

• ययौ: went
• ययौ: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तस्य: of that (Rāma)
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• राघवस्य: of Rāghava (Rāma)
• राघवस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled
• महात्मनः: सम्बन्ध-विशेषण (Genitive qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमासः (महान् आत्मा यस्य); पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (राघवस्य इति विशेषण)

• सुग्रीवः: Sugrīva
• सुग्रीवः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुग्रीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• संहतग्रीवः: thick/strong-necked
• संहतग्रीवः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Karta-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संहत-ग्रीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमासः (संहता ग्रीवा यस्य); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (सुग्रीवः इति विशेषण)

• लक्ष्मणः: Lakṣmaṇa
• लक्ष्मणः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• महाबलः: mighty, very strong
• महाबलः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Karta-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमासः (महत् बलम् यस्य); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (लक्ष्मणः इति विशेषण)

Context

The strong-necked Sugriva and mighty Lakshmana walked in front of the high-souled Rama.

Characters & Entities

• Rāghava (Rāma)
• Sugrīva
• Lakṣmaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed as loyal service and protective companionship: allies and kin place themselves forward to safeguard the righteous leader.

What is the narrative situation?

As the party advances, Sugrīva and Lakṣmaṇa take the lead position before Rāma, indicating alertness and tactical care.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Loyalty and courage—Sugrīva’s allied commitment and Lakṣmaṇa’s protective steadfastness.