Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 1, Shloka 64

श्रीमद्रामायणकथासङ्क्षेपः / The Ramayana in Synopsis

Narada’s Summary to Valmiki

Devanagari script

सुग्रीवश्शङ्कितश्चासीन्नित्यं वीर्येण राघवे ।।1.1.63।।राघवप्रत्ययार्थं तु दुन्दुभे: कायमुत्तमम् ।दर्शयामास सुग्रीवो महापर्वतसन्निभम् ।।1.1.64।।

Transliteration

sugrīvaḥ śaṅkitaś cāsīn nityaṃ vīryeṇa rāghave |

rāghava-pratyayārthaṃ tu dundubheḥ kāyam uttamam |

darśayāmāsa sugrīvo mahā-parvata-sannibham ||

Translation

Sugrīva, vẫn chưa thật tin vào uy lực của Rāma, đã đem thân xác hùng vĩ của Dundubhi—mênh mông như núi—mà chỉ bày, để Rāma hoàn toàn tin chắc và sẵn lòng hành sự.

Word by Word

• utsmayitvā: having smiled
• utsmayitvā: Kriyā (क्रिया) (subsidiary action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-√smi (स्मि) (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा) → utsmayitvā (कृदन्त)
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वान्त), pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया) = 'having smiled'

• mahābāhuḥ: the mighty-armed (Rāma)
• mahābāhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + bāhu (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; bahuvrīhi ‘mahābāhū yasya saḥ’ = 'one whose arms are great'

• prekṣya: having looked (at)
• prekṣya: Kriyā (क्रिया) (subsidiary action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√īkṣ (ईक्ष्) (धातु) + lyap (ल्यप्) → prekṣya (कृदन्त)
• Form: Absolutive (ल्यप्/क्त्वार्थ), 'having looked at'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• asthi: bone / skeleton
• asthi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asthi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Dvitīyā (Acc/2nd), Ekavacana

• mahābalaḥ: the very strong one
• mahābalaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + bala (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; bahuvrīhi ‘mahābalaṃ yasya saḥ’

• pādāṅguṣṭhena: with the big toe (of the foot)
• pādāṅguṣṭhena: Karaṇa (करण) (instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda + aṅguṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instr/3rd), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa ‘pādasya aṅguṣṭhaḥ’

• cikṣepa: threw / kicked away
• cikṣepa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṣip (क्षिप्) (धातु)
• Form: Tinganta, Parasmaipada; Lakāra: Liṭ (Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana

• sampūrṇam: fully / complete
• sampūrṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) (measure qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sampūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक; PPP from sam-√pṝ) (कृदन्तवत्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; used adverbially with measure = 'a full/complete (distance)'

• daśayojanam: ten yojanas (distance)
• daśayojanam: Karma (कर्म) (extent/measure as object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa + yojana (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; dvigu (द्विगु) numeral compound indicating measure

Context

Doubtful of the prowess Sugriva of Rama Sugriva inorder to get convinced showed him the huge (dead) body of Dundubhi resembling a big mountain.

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• Rāma (Rāghava)
• Dundubhi

FAQs

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

The verse models dharmic discernment: seeking confirmation before decisive action. Trust is strengthened by clarity and truthful demonstration rather than mere assertion.

What is the narrative situation?

This reiterates the same episode: Sugrīva presents Dundubhi’s gigantic body as a benchmark to assess whether Rāma can overcome Vāli.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sugrīva’s carefulness and sense of responsibility toward the pact; he ensures the alliance rests on realistic capability.