Shloka 17

किष्किन्धायां सुग्रीवस्य नादः

Sugriva’s War-Cry at Kishkindha

Devanagari script

जितकाशी बलश्लाघी त्वया चाधर्षितः पुरा।निष्पतिष्यत्यसङ्गेन वाली स प्रियसंयुगः4.14.17।।

Transliteration

jitakāśī balaślāghī tvayā cādharṣitaḥ purā |

niṣpatiṣyaty asaṅgena vālī sa priyasaṅyugaḥ || 4.14.17 ||

Translation

Vāli ấy—tự đắc vì sức mạnh, khoe khoang uy lực, ham giao chiến—xưa đã bị ngươi khiêu chiến, nay sẽ lao ra khỏi thành không chút do dự.

Word by Word

• जित-काशी: proud/vainglorious (lit. ‘having conquered brilliance’)
• जित-काशी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित (√जि, कृदन्त) + काशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (जिता काशा/काषा यस्य = one whose ‘shine’ is conquered? idiomatically ‘one who has conquered (others) and is radiant/proud’)

• बल-श्लाघी: boasting of strength
• बल-श्लाघी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक) + श्लाघिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (बलस्य श्लाघी = one who boasts of strength)

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (कर्तृ/करण), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• अधर्षितः: challenged
• अधर्षितः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa / Predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि√धृष् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘challenged/insulted’

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (formerly)

• निष्पतिष्यति: will rush out
• निष्पतिष्यति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि√पत् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (future), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• असङ्गेन: without hesitation
• असङ्गेन: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; adverbial instrumental ‘without hesitation/without attachment’

• वाली: Vali
• वाली: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वालिन्/वालि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रिय-संयुगः: fond of battle
• प्रिय-संयुगः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (प्रियं संयुगं यस्य = one to whom battle is dear)

Context

Alarmed at the yelling of Sugriva, the cows began to run in all directions, like the women of noble pedigree who, with their brightness lost, run perplexed for failure of the king to protect their chastity.

Characters & Entities

• Sugriva
• Rama
• Vali
• Kishkindha (city implied by ‘from the city’)

FAQs

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

The verse cautions that pride in strength can drive swift, aggressive responses; Dharma requires that power be tempered by self-control, otherwise valor becomes mere impulsiveness.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugriva predicts Vali’s immediate reaction to the provocation: he will come out promptly to meet the challenge.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Martial ardor (yuddha-prīti) is highlighted in Vali, though framed alongside the moral risk of pride.