Shloka 1

सुग्रीवस्य शतवलि-प्रेषणम्

Sugriva’s Commission to Satavali for the Northern Search

Devanagari script

ततस्सन्दिश्य सुग्रीवश्श्वशुरं पश्चिमां दिशम्।वीरं शतवलिं नाम वानरं वानरर्षभः।।।।

Transliteration

tatas sandiśya sugrīvaḥ śvaśuraṃ paścimāṃ diśam | vīraṃ śatavaliṃ nāma vānaraṃ vānararṣabhaḥ ||

Translation

于是，猴中之雄苏格利婆遣其岳父往西方去，继而对名为沙多伐利的英勇之猴说道。

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (then)

• सन्दिश्य: having assigned
• सन्दिश्य: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-दिश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘having instructed/assigned’

• सुग्रीवः: Sugriva
• सुग्रीवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुग्रीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• श्वशुरम्: father-in-law
• श्वशुरम्: Karma (कर्म; सन्दिश्य का कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वशुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• पश्चिमाम्: western
• पश्चिमाम्: Karma (कर्म; दिशम्-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पश्चिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘दिशम्’

• दिशम्: direction
• दिशम्: Karma (कर्म; गन्तव्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश्/दिशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• वीरम्: valiant
• वीरम्: Karma (कर्म; विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘शतवलिम्/वानरम्’

• शतवलिम्: Shatavali
• शतवलिम्: Karma (कर्म; सन्दिश्य का कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शतवलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• नाम: by name
• नाम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; नामनिर्देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नाम-निर्देशक

• वानरम्: a monkey
• वानरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; अप्पोजिशन to ‘शतवलिम्’

• वानरर्षभः: bull/best among monkeys
• वानरर्षभः: Karta (कर्ता; सुग्रीवः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर + ऋषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (वानराणाम् ऋषभः = best/bull among monkeys); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; सुग्रीवस्य विशेषण

Context

'O monkeys! the auspicious rivers with cool waters flow towards the western region. Search in the groves inhabited by ascetics, other forests, mountains, cliffs, in the desert-land. Search in the inaccessible western region surrounded by mountains. Then proceed to the western ocean infested with whales and alligators, which cannot be easily disturbed.

Characters & Entities

• Sugriva
• Śatavali
• western direction

FAQs

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

Dharma as responsible leadership: duties are allocated clearly so that collective effort becomes effective service to the righteous cause.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration transitions between assignments: one leader is sent west, and Sugrīva turns to address Śatavali for the next deployment.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Niyojana-kauśala (skill in delegation and organization).