Shloka 1

द्वितीयः सर्गः (Sarga 2): Sugriva’s Alarm and Hanuman’s Commission

Devanagari script

तौ तु दृष्ट्वा महात्मानौ भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ।वरायुधधरौ वीरौ सुग्रीवश्शङ्कितोऽभवत्।।

Transliteration

tau tu dṛṣṭvā mahātmānau bhrātarau rāma-lakṣmaṇau | vara-āyudha-dharau vīrau sugrīvaḥ śaṅkito 'bhavat ||

Translation

Vừa trông thấy hai bậc đại hồn—hai huynh đệ Rāma và Lakṣmaṇa—những dũng sĩ mang khí giới thượng hạng, Sugrīva liền sinh lòng bất an và nghi hoặc.

Word by Word

• tau: those two
• tau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Dual (द्विवचन)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (निपात) indicating contrast/emphasis

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (दृश्) (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), 'having seen'

• mahātmānau: the two great-souled
• mahātmānau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Dual (द्विवचन); बहुव्रीहि: 'mahān ātmā yayor asti' qualifying rāma-lakṣmaṇau

• bhrātarau: two brothers
• bhrātarau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Dual (द्विवचन); apposition to rāma-lakṣmaṇau

• rāma-lakṣmaṇau: Rama and Lakshmana
• rāma-lakṣmaṇau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक) + lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Dual (द्विवचन); द्वन्द्व

• varāyudha-dharau: bearing excellent weapons
• varāyudha-dharau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक) + āyudha (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Dual (द्विवचन); तत्पुरुष: 'varāṇi āyudhāni dharataḥ' qualifying rāma-lakṣmaṇau

• vīrau: two heroes
• vīrau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Dual (द्विवचन); apposition

• sugrīvaḥ: Sugriva
• sugrīvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sugrīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• śaṅkitaḥ: suspicious, doubtful
• śaṅkitaḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaṅkita (कृदन्त, क्त from √śaṅk (शङ्क्))
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicate adjective of sugrīvaḥ

• abhavat: became
• abhavat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (भू) (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

Context

On seeing the two great souls, heroic Rama and Lakshmana wielding the best of weapons, Sugriva was alarmed.

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma includes prudent caution: past harm (Sugrīva’s conflict with Vāli) makes him wary, illustrating how fear can shape judgment and the need for discernment.

What is the narrative situation?

At Ṛṣyamūka, Sugrīva sees Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa approaching and becomes apprehensive.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence (though mixed with fear): careful assessment of potential danger.