Shloka 17

स्वयंप्रभा-संवादः

Svayamprabha’s Dialogue with the Vanaras

Devanagari script

यत्त्वया रक्षितास्सर्वे म्रियमाणा बुभुक्षया।।।।ब्रूहि प्रत्युपकारार्थं किं ते कुर्वन्तु वानराः।

Transliteration

yat tvayā rakṣitāḥ sarve mriyamāṇā bubhukṣayā | brūhi pratyupakārārthaṃ kiṃ te kurvantu vānarāḥ ||

Translation

既然是你在我们饥饿将死之时救了我们众人，请告知：众猴当如何报答你的恩德？

Word by Word

• yat: that which / what
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1/2 विभक्ति), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun used correlatively with implied तत्

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Second person pronoun; Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• rakṣitāḥ: protected / saved
• rakṣitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (of passive sense: 'having been protected')
• Type: Verb
• Root: rakṣ (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with सर्वे

• sarve: all
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• mriyamāṇāḥ: dying
• mriyamāṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: mṛ (धातु) + śānac (शानच्)
• Form: Present middle participle (वर्तमान-कृदन्त, शानच्); Masculine, Nominative, Plural; qualifies सर्वे

• bubhukṣayā: by hunger / from starvation
• bubhukṣayā: Hetu (हेतु) / Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bubhukṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); cause/instrument sense

• brūhi: tell
• brūhi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• pratyupakārārtham: for the sake of repaying (in return)
• pratyupakārārtham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prati + upakāra + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; purpose sense (अर्थे द्वितीया)

• kim: what
• kim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Interrogative pronoun; Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of कुर्वन्तु

• te: for you / to you
• te: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Second person pronoun; Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• kurvantu: should do
• kurvantu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada

• vānarāḥ: monkeys
• vānarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

Context

'We were dying from hunger when you saved us. Tell us what the monkeys can do to repay your debt?'.

Characters & Entities

• Svayaṃprabhā
• vānarāḥ (monkeys)

FAQs

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

Gratitude and reciprocity (pratyupakāra): dharma requires acknowledging benefaction and seeking a rightful way to return help, rather than taking generosity for granted.

What is the narrative situation?

After being saved and fed, the monkeys request guidance on how they can repay Svayaṃprabhā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kṛtajñatā (thankfulness)—the willingness to repay kindness and honor moral debts.