Shloka 31

मैत्रीप्रतिष्ठा

Rama–Sugriva Alliance and Fire-Rite of Friendship

Devanagari script

तव प्रसादेन नृसिंह राघवप्रियां च राज्यं च समाप्नुयामहम्। तथा कुरु त्वं नरदेव वैरिणंयथा निहंस्यद्य रिपुंममाग्रजम्4.5.31।।

Transliteration

tava prasādena nṛsiṃha rāghava priyāṃ ca rājyaṃ ca samāpnuyām aham |

tathā kuru tvaṃ naradeva vairiṇaṃ yathā nihaṃsyādya ripuṃ mamāgrajam || 4.5.31 ||

Translation

蒙你恩泽，噢人中之狮、罗伽婆，我必重得所爱与王国。故请你作为人王施为，使我如今得以诛灭我的仇敌——我的长兄。

Word by Word

• sītā: Sita
• sītā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• kapīndra-kṣaṇadācara-āṇām: of the monkey-lords and the night-rangers
• kapīndra-kṣaṇadācara-āṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapīndra (प्रातिपदिक) + kṣaṇadācara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्वः (kapīndrāṇāṃ ca kṣaṇadācarāṇāṃ ca = of the monkey-lords and the night-rangers)

• rājīva-hema-jvalana-upamāni: lotus-like and blazing like gold/fire
• rājīva-hema-jvalana-upamāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rājīva (प्रातिपदिक) + hema (प्रातिपदिक) + jvalana (प्रातिपदिक) + upama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समाहारः/बहुपद-समासः (rājīvopamāni ca hemajvalanopamāni ca = lotus-like and gold/fire-like)

• sugrīva-rāma-praṇaya-prasaṅge: on the occasion of Sugriva-Rama friendship
• sugrīva-rāma-praṇaya-prasaṅge: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sugrīva (प्रातिपदिक) + rāma (प्रातिपदिक) + praṇaya (प्रातिपदिक) + prasaṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (sugrīva-rāmayor praṇayasya prasaṅge = on the occasion of friendship between Sugriva and Rama)

• vāmāni: left (side)
• vāmāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• netrāṇi: eyes
• netrāṇi: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: netra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• samam: equally
• samam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sama (प्रातिपदिक used adverbially)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणवत् अव्ययीभूत (adverbial accusative: equally)

• sphuranti: throb/twitch
• sphuranti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sphur (स्फुर्, धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

Context

'This Rama, son of a king who had gratified the firegod through many yajnas like Rajasuya and Aswamedha, gifted hundreds of thousands of cows and ruled this earth with truth and austerity, has come seeking help for a woman.'

Characters & Entities

• Sugriva
• Rama (Raghava)
• Vali (implied as elder brother/enemy)
• kingdom

FAQs

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

Dharma here is framed as seeking rightful restoration (wife and kingdom) through alliance with a righteous protector, rather than through uncontrolled vengeance.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva directly petitions Rāma for assistance against his elder brother Vāli, expecting that Rāma’s support will restore his lost position.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sugrīva’s reliance on righteous aid and formal alliance—he seeks a dharmic champion (Rāma) to resolve an otherwise unequal conflict.