Shloka 16

स्वयंप्रभा

प्रश्नोत्तरम् / Svayamprabha Explains the Golden Forest and Questions the Vanaras

Devanagari script

दुहिता मेरुसावर्णेरहं तस्यास्स्वयंप्रभा।।4.51.16।।इदं रक्षामि भवनं हेमाया वानरोत्तम।

Transliteration

duhitā merusāvarṇer ahaṃ tasyāḥ svayaṃprabhā | idaṃ rakṣāmi bhavanaṃ hemāyā vānarottama ||

Translation

ดูก่อนวานรผู้ประเสริฐ เราคือสวยัมประภา ธิดาแห่งเมรุสาวรรณี เราเฝ้ารักษามณเฑียรนี้ของนางเหมา

Word by Word

• दुहिता: (I am) the daughter
• दुहिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुहितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.)

• मेरुसावर्णेः: of Meru-Sāvarṇi
• मेरुसावर्णेः: Sambandha/Genitive (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेरुसावर्णि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Gen. 6), एकवचन (sg.)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम (1st person pronoun), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.)

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: Sambandha/Genitive (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), षष्ठी (Gen. 6), एकवचन (sg.)

• स्वयंप्रभा: Svayaṃprabhā (self-luminous one)
• स्वयंप्रभा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वयं + प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.); कर्मधारयः—स्वयम् प्रभा यस्याः/या

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.)

• रक्षामि: I protect/guard
• रक्षामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Pres.), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (sg.), परस्मैपद

• भवनम्: house, dwelling
• भवनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.)

• हेमायाः: of Hemā
• हेमायाः: Sambandha/Genitive (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), षष्ठी (Gen. 6), एकवचन (sg.)

• वानरोत्तम: O best of monkeys
• वानरोत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सम्बोधन (Voc.), एकवचन (sg.); कर्मधारयः—वानरः उत्तमः

Context

'O best of monkeys! daughter of Meru Sauvarni, I am Svayamprabha (self-illuminator), caretaker of this house of Hema. (Meru Sauvarni is the eleventh Manu).

Characters & Entities

• Svayaṃprabhā
• Merusāvarṇi
• Hēmā
• Hanumān
• bhavana (mansion)

FAQs

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

Dharma as duty (rakṣaṇa): Svayaṃprabhā identifies herself and her rightful responsibility as guardian—truthful identity and faithful protection of a trust.

What is the narrative situation?

Svayaṃprabhā formally introduces her lineage and role to the vānaras.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Accountability—she clearly states who she is and what duty she upholds.