Shloka 1

लङ्कादुर्गवर्णनम्

Description of Lanka’s Fortifications and Forces

Devanagari script

सुग्रीवस्यवचश्श्रुत्वाहेतुमत्परमार्थवत् ।प्रतिजग्राहकाकुत्स्थोहनूमन्तमथाब्रवीत् ।।।।

Transliteration

sugrīvasya vacaḥ śrutvā hetumat paramārthavat | pratijagrāha kākutstho hanūmantam athābravīt ||

Translation

Nghe lời Sugrīva đầy lý lẽ, thấu đạt đại nghĩa chân thật, Rāma thuộc dòng Kakutstha liền chấp thuận, rồi cất lời bảo Hanumān.

Word by Word

• सुग्रीवस्य: of Sugrīva
• सुग्रीवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुग्रीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• वचः: words, speech
• वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive): ‘having heard’

• हेतुमत्: well-reasoned
• हेतुमत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हेतुमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् वचः-शब्दस्य (qualifying ‘speech’)

• परमार्थवत्: full of true import
• परमार्थवत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परमार्थवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् वचः-शब्दस्य

• प्रतिजग्राह: accepted
• प्रतिजग्राह: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्; उपसर्गः प्रति

• काकुत्स्थः: Rāma (scion of Kakutstha)
• काकुत्स्थः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काकुत्स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हनूमन्तम्: Hanumān
• हनूमन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हनूमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: Kāla-sambandha (कालसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (temporal particle)

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्

Context

Rama the scion of Kakuthsa dynasty having accepted the well-meaning words of Sugriva, who spoke the truth with deep understanding, turned to Hanuman and said.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Kākutstha)
• Sugrīva
• Hanumān

FAQs

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

Dharma in leadership includes listening to truthful, well-reasoned counsel (satya + yukti) and acting without ego; Rāma models receptivity and principled decision-making.

What is the narrative situation?

At the outset of Yuddhakāṇḍa preparations, Sugrīva offers strategic counsel; Rāma accepts it and turns to instruct Hanumān for the next step.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s virtue of discernment and humility in governance—accepting sound advice and delegating responsibly.