Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 17, Shloka 17

सप्तदशः सर्गः — देवसंवादः तथा वानर-ऋक्ष-उत्पत्तिः

Divine Council and the Generation of Vanara Allies

Devanagari script

मेरुमन्दरसङ्काशा वपुष्मन्तो महाबला:।ऋक्षवानरगोपुच्छा: क्षिप्रमेवाभिजज्ञिरे।।।।

Transliteration

meru-mandara-saṅkāśā vapuṣmanto mahābalāḥ | ṛkṣa-vānara-go-pucchāḥ kṣipram evābhijajñire ||

Translation

Mighty beings swiftly came into existence—bodied like Meru and Mandara—of great strength: bears, monkeys, and those with cow-like tails.

Word by Word

• मेरुमन्दरसङ्काशाः: like Meru and Mandara (mountains)
• मेरुमन्दरसङ्काशाः: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेरु (प्रातिपदिक) + मन्दर (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्काश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, बहुवचन; पुंलिङ्ग; विशेषण; समासः (मेरु-मन्दरयोः सङ्काशाः) षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; Nominative plural masculine

• वपुष्मन्तः: bodied, possessing physiques
• वपुष्मन्तः: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वपुष्मत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, बहुवचन; पुंलिङ्ग; विशेषण; Nominative plural masculine

• महाबलाः: very strong
• महाबलाः: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, बहुवचन; पुंलिङ्ग; विशेषण; कर्मधारय (महद् बलं येषाम्); Nominative plural masculine

• ऋक्षवानरगोपुच्छाः: bears, monkeys, and cow-tailed ones
• ऋक्षवानरगोपुच्छाः: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऋक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + वानर (प्रातिपदिक) + गो (प्रातिपदिक) + पुच्छ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, बहुवचन; पुंलिङ्ग; विशेषण; समासः द्वन्द्व/समाहार-प्राय (ऋक्षाः वानराः गोपुच्छाः च); Nominative plural masculine

• क्षिप्रम्: quickly
• क्षिप्रम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्षिप्रम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण/adverb

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण

• अभिजज्ञिरे: were born, came into being
• अभिजज्ञिरे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + जन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘came into being’

Context

Endowed with bodies similar to the Meru and Mandara mountains and having great strength, bears, monkeys, monkeys with cow-tails quickly came into being.

Characters & Entities

• Meru
• Mandara
• Ṛkṣas (bears)
• Vānaras (monkeys)

FAQs

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

Dharma is upheld by timely support: when evil grows vast, providential strength arises swiftly to restore balance.

What is the narrative situation?

The poem describes the rapid manifestation of powerful allied beings (bears and monkeys) with immense physiques.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Collective might and readiness—strength mobilized for a righteous objective.