Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 17, Shloka 9

सप्तदशः सर्गः — देवसंवादः तथा वानर-ऋक्ष-उत्पत्तिः

Divine Council and the Generation of Vanara Allies

Devanagari script

वानरेन्द्रं महेन्द्राभमिन्द्रो वालिनमूर्जितम्।सुग्रीवं जनयामास तपनस्तपतां वर:।।।।

Transliteration

vānarendraṃ mahendrābham indro vālinam ūrjitam |

sugrīvaṃ janayāmāsa tapanas tapatāṃ varaḥ || 1.17.9 ||

Translation

Indra sinh ra Vāli—chúa tể loài khỉ—thân lực hùng cường, sánh như núi Mahendra; còn Sūrya, bậc tối thắng trong các đấng rực sáng, sinh ra Sugrīva.

Word by Word

• राज्ञः: of the king
• राज्ञः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• पुत्राः: sons
• पुत्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन

• महात्मानः: great-souled; noble
• महात्मानः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘पुत्राः’ इति विशेषणम्

• चत्वारः: four
• चत्वारः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catvāra (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘पुत्राः’ इति विशेषणम्

• जज्ञिरे: were born
• जज्ञिरे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jan (धातु)
• Form: लिट् लकार (Perfect), आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• पृथक्: separately; one after another
• पृथक्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pṛthak (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: separately/successively)

• गुणवन्तः: virtuous; possessing qualities
• गुणवन्तः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guṇavant (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘पुत्राः’ इति विशेषणम्

• अनुरूपाः: worthy; fitting
• अनुरूपाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anurūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘पुत्राः’ इति विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• रुच्या: in brightness; by splendor
• रुच्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ruci (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; हेतौ/प्रकारे (in respect of: ‘in brightness’)

• प्रोष्ठपदोपमाः: like the Proṣṭhapadā (stars)
• प्रोष्ठपदोपमाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: proṣṭhapada + upamā (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—प्रोष्ठपदेन उपमाः (like Proṣṭhapadā stars)

Context

Indra gave birth to Vali, chief of monkeys resembling Mahendra mountain and having a mighty body. Sun, great among those producing heat, begot Sugriva.

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Vāli
• Sugrīva
• Sūrya (Tapana)
• Mahendra (mountain)

FAQs

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

Dharma advances through rightly empowered leadership: the narrative grounds future social-political order among the vānara hosts by tracing their leaders to divine sources meant for righteous purpose.

What is the narrative situation?

The poem identifies the divine parentage of two central vānara figures—Vāli and Sugrīva—who will shape the alliance dynamics in the epic.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Authority with strength: ‘vānarendra’ and ‘ūrjita’ highlight leadership and power as necessary instruments when aligned with dharma.