Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 18, Shloka 34

शरणागति

धर्मनिर्णयः (Decision on Refuge and Dharma) / Rama’s Vow of Protection and the Acceptance of Vibhishana

Devanagari script

रामस्यतुवच्शुत्वासुग्रीवःप्लवगेश्वरः ।प्रत्यभाषतकाकुत्स्थंसौहार्देनप्रचोदितः ।।।।

Transliteration

rāmasya tu vacaḥ śrutvā sugrīvaḥ plavageśvaraḥ |

pratyabhāṣata kākutsthaṃ sauhārdena pracoditaḥ ||

Translation

Nghe lời Rāma, Sugrīva—chúa tể loài vānara—đáp lời vị hoàng tử dòng Kakutstha, được thúc đẩy bởi tình thân ái.

Word by Word

• rāmasya: of Rāma
• rāmasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• tu: then/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/विरोध (particle)

• vacaḥ: words
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म/Object of ‘श्रुत्वा’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय, gerund)

• sugrīvaḥ: Sugrīva
• sugrīvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sugrīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• plavageśvaraḥ: lord of the monkeys
• plavageśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: plavaga-īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (प्लवगानाम् ईश्वरः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; apposition to ‘सुग्रीवः’

• pratyabhāṣata: replied
• pratyabhāṣata: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-√bhāṣ (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• kākutstham: to Kakutstha (Rāma)
• kākutstham: Karma (कर्म/Object of ‘प्रत्यभाषत’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kākutstha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• sauhārdena: with affection
• sauhārdena: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sauhārda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘with friendliness/affection’

• pracoditaḥ: urged/inspired
• pracoditaḥ: Hetu (हेतु/Causal circumstance)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√cud (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘having been urged’

Context

Having heard the inciting words spoken by Rama so lovingly, the king of Vanaras replied.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sugrīva

FAQs

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

Dharma is supported by good counsel within friendship: Sugrīva responds not with rivalry but with loyal affection that upholds righteous action.

What is the narrative situation?

After Rāma declares his vow of refuge, the narration turns to Sugrīva’s reply.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sugrīva’s loyalty and affectionate alignment with Rāma’s dharmic stance.