Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 4, Shloka 5

समुद्रतट-प्रयाणम् तथा वेलावन-निवेशः

March to the Seacoast and Encampment at the Shore

Devanagari script

उत्तरा फल्गुनी ह्यद्य श्वस्तु हस्तेन योक्ष्यते ।अभिप्रायाम सुग्रीव सर्वानीकसमावृताः ।।।।

Transliteration

uttarā phalgunī hy adya śvas tu hastena yokṣyate | abhiprāyāma sugrīva sarvānīkasamāvṛtāḥ ||

Translation

今日北后宿（Uttarā Phalgunī）当盛；明日将与手宿（Hasta）相合。苏格利瓦啊，召集全军诸部——我决意择此吉时出征。

Word by Word

• uttarā: Uttarā (Uttara)
• uttarā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uttarā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); नक्षत्रनाम

• phalgunī: Phalgunī (star)
• phalgunī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phalgunī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); नक्षत्रनाम

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; अर्थे—खलु/नूनम् (indeed)

• adya: today
• adya: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• śvaḥ: tomorrow
• śvaḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śvaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• tu: but/and then
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेष (but/indeed)

• hastena: with (the star) Hasta
• hastena: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular); नक्षत्रनाम

• yokṣyate: will be in conjunction / will join
• yokṣyate: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yuj (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), आत्मनेपद; भविष्यदर्थे लट् (present used with future sense)

• abhiprāyāma: intention, resolve
• abhiprāyāma: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abhiprāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); वाक्ये कर्मरूपेण (object-like mention of intention)

• sugrīva: O Sugrīva
• sugrīva: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sugrīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (singular)

• sarva-anīka-samāvṛtāḥ: covered/attended by all divisions of the army
• sarva-anīka-samāvṛtāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + anīka (प्रातिपदिक) + sam-ā-vṛ (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive tatpurusha): sarvānīkaiḥ samāvṛtāḥ; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) ‘samāvṛta’; पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (plural)

Context

Today Uttaraphalguni constellation is on the ascent and for me born in Punarvasu star, Hasta, will be in conjunction with the moon. Sugriva! You may assemble all the army as I desire to start the journey (as it is auspicious for me).

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• army (anīka/senā)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes orderly, responsible action: even in war, the leader proceeds with discipline, planning, and attention to auspiciousness understood as harmony with cosmic order.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma directs Sugrīva to assemble all forces, indicating an imminent departure/operation timed with favorable nakṣatras.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Strategic prudence and command responsibility: Rāma coordinates timing and mobilization without wavering from the righteous objective.