Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

तौ त्वया प्राकृतेनैव गत्वा ज्ञेयौ प्लवङ्गम।इङ्गितानां प्रकारैश्च रूपव्याभाषणेन च।।

Transliteration

tau tvayā prākṛtenaiva gatvā jñeyau plavaṅgama | iṅgitānāṃ prakāraiś ca rūpavyābhāṣaṇena ca ||

Translation

猴子啊，你要乔装成普通模样去接近那两人，通过他们的举止、外貌和谈吐来探明他们的底细。

Word by Word

• तौ: those two
• तौ: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), द्विवचन

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: कर्ता (Karta/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• प्राकृतेन: with an ordinary (guise)
• प्राकृतेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘(रूपेण)’ इति अध्याहृत-विशेष्ये विशेषणम्

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: निपात (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle: only/indeed)

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund); ‘having gone’

• ज्ञेयौ: should be ascertained
• ज्ञेयौ: विधेय (Predicate necessity)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्/य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; ‘to be ascertained/should be found out’

• प्लवङ्गम: O monkey
• प्लवङ्गम: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्लवङ्गम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• इङ्गितानाम्: of gestures/signs
• इङ्गितानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इङ्गित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन

• प्रकारैः: by means of ways/modes
• प्रकारैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• रूपव्याभाषणेन: by (their) appearance and speech
• रूपव्याभाषणेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप + व्याभाषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (रूपं च व्याभाषणं च)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

Context

'O Hanuman! assume an ordinary form and approach them. Try to read them through their gestures, traits, forms and conversations.

Characters & Entities

• Sugriva
• Hanuman
• Rama
• Lakshmana

FAQs

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

Truth-seeking is dharmic: before trusting or opposing, one should verify intentions through careful observation and honest inquiry.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva instructs Hanumān to approach Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa discreetly and assess their purpose through behavior and speech.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discernment joined with tact (kauśala)—gathering truth without provoking conflict.