Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 18, Shloka 4

शरणागति

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

Devanagari script

सुग्रीस्त्वथतद्वाक्यमाभाष्यचविमृश्यच ।ततश्शुभतरंवाक्यमुवाचहरिपुङ्गवः ।।।।

Transliteration

sugrīvas tv atha tad vākyaṃ ābhāṣya ca vimṛśya ca | tataḥ śubhataraṃ vākyaṃ uvāca haripuṅgavaḥ ||

Translation

Khi ấy Sugrīva, bậc anh hùng đứng đầu các thủ lĩnh Vānara, đáp lại lời ấy rồi suy xét kỹ, liền thưa lên một lời còn cát tường hơn, vì lợi ích của Rāma.

Word by Word

• sugrīvaḥ: Sugriva
• sugrīvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sugrīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• tu: however
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle (contrast/emphasis)

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, sequential connector

• tat-vākyam: that statement
• tat-vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (कर्मधारय/षष्ठीभावः: ‘tasya vākyam’); Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ābhāṣya: having spoken
• ābhāṣya: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhāṣ (भाष् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), with preverb ā-; ‘having addressed/spoken’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction

• vimṛśya: having reflected
• vimṛśya: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: mṛś (मृश् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), with preverb vi-; ‘having reflected/considered’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, ablatival adverb ‘thereafter/from that’

• śubhataraṃ: more auspicious/better
• śubhataraṃ: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Comparative degree (तरप्), Neuter, Accusative, Singular; qualifies ‘vākyam’

• vākyam: words/speech
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular

• hari-puṅgavaḥ: leader of the monkeys
• hari-puṅgavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक) + puṅgava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘harīṇāṃ puṅgavaḥ’); Masculine, Nominative, Singular; apposition to ‘sugrīvaḥ’

Context

Then Sugriva, the leader of Vanaras reflecting on what was spoken by Rama said these words favouring Rama.

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• Vānara (Haripuṅgava)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is thoughtful speech: a leader should reflect before speaking, aiming at what is truly beneficial (śubha) for the common good and for the righteous cause.

What is the narrative situation?

At the moment when counsel is being exchanged about a new and sensitive development (Vibhīṣaṇa approaching for refuge), Sugrīva prepares a considered response.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sugrīva’s prudence and responsible leadership—speaking only after reflection.