Shloka 35

स्वयम्प्रभा-विमोचनम् — Svayamprabha Leads the Vanaras Out

Time-Limit Crisis and Counsel

Devanagari script

तीक्ष्णः प्रकृत्या सुग्रीवः प्रियासक्तश्च राघवः।।4.53.34।।अदृष्टायां तु वैदेह्यां दृष्ट्वाऽस्मांश्त समागतान्।राघवप्रियकामार्थं घातयिष्यत्यसंशयम्।।4.53.35।।

Transliteration

tīkṣṇaḥ prakṛtyā sugrīvaḥ priyāsaktaś ca rāghavaḥ || (4.53.34)

adṛṣṭāyāṃ tu vaidehyāṃ dṛṣṭvā 'smāṃś ca samāgatān |

rāghavapriyakāmārthaṃ ghātayiṣyaty asaṃśayam || (4.53.35)

Translation

须伽利婆天性严厉，而罗伽婆深恋其所爱。因此若未寻得毗提希，他见我们归来，必为取悦罗伽婆而毫无疑问地下令杀我们。

Word by Word

• adṛṣṭāyām: when (she) is not seen/found
• adṛṣṭāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-dṛṣṭā (past participle of dṛś; दृश् धातु)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; locative absolute with vaidehyām

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avadhāraṇa/virodha-nipāta

• vaidehyām: when Vaidehi (Sita)
• vaidehyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaidehī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; in locative absolute

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (दृश् धातु)
• Form: Ktvā absolutive; prior action

• asmān: us
• asmān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद्)
• Form: Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana; object

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta; emphasis

• samāgatān: returned/arrived
• samāgatān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: Kta past participle; Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana; qualifying asmān

• rāghavapriyakāmārtham: for the purpose of pleasing Raghava
• rāghavapriyakāmārtham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava-priya-kāma-artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; samāsa chain: rāghava + priya + kāma + artha; adverbial accusative of purpose

• ghātayiṣyati: will kill/punish to death
• ghātayiṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ghātaya (causative of han; हन् धातु)
• Form: Luṭ future, Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

• asaṃśayam: without doubt
• asaṃśayam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: a-saṃśaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa-avyaya (accusative adverb)

Context

'By nature Sugriva is harsh. Rama is devoted to his wife. Therefore, if Sugriva sees that we have not found Vaidehi and have returned (without fulfilling the mission) he will award death sentence to us in order to please Rama.There is no doubt.

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• Rāma (Rāghava)
• Sītā (Vaidehī)

FAQs

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

Even when textual traditions repeat or expand, the ethical issue remains: fear-driven conclusions can lead to adharma unless checked by reason, courage, and commitment to truth.

What is the narrative situation?

A duplicated/renumbered line reiterates the party’s fear of execution upon returning without Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Collective deliberation—group reasoning about consequences, even if pessimistic.