Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 17, Shloka 36

सप्तदशः सर्गः — देवसंवादः तथा वानर-ऋक्ष-उत्पत्तिः

Divine Council and the Generation of Vanara Allies

Devanagari script

शिलाप्रहरणाः सर्वे सर्वे पादपयोधिनः ।

नखदंष्ट्रायुधाः सर्वे सर्वे सर्वास्त्रकोविदाः ॥

Transliteration

śilāpraharaṇāḥ sarve sarve pādapayodhinaḥ |

nakhadaṃṣṭrāyudhāḥ sarve sarve sarvāstrakovidāḥ ||

Translation

All of them used rocks as their striking weapons, and all of them fought using trees. All of them possessed claws and sharp teeth as their natural weaponry, yet all were also skilled in the use of all kinds of missiles and weapons.

Word by Word

• तैः: by them
• तैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• इयम्: this
• इयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पृथ्वी: earth
• पृथ्वी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथ्वी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शूरैः: by the heroes
• शूरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सपर्वत: with mountains
• सपर्वत: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (पाठानुसार खण्डित-रूप) स-प्रयोगः (with) + पर्वत; विशेषण-प्रयोगः

• वन: forest(s)
• वन: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (as listed item; in full verse part of compound)

• अर्णवा: sea(s)
• अर्णवा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (as listed item; in full verse part of compound)

• कीर्णा: was filled
• कीर्णा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कीर्ण (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √कॄ/किर्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विविध: various
• विविध: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (पाठानुसार खण्डित-रूप) विशेषण

• संस्थानैः: with forms/structures
• संस्थानैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संस्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• नाना: various
• नाना: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाना (अव्यय)
• Form: पर्याय/विविधता-बोधक अव्यय (indeclinable meaning 'various')

• व्यञ्जन: marks/features
• व्यञ्जन: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यञ्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, (समासाङ्ग)

• लक्षणैः: with characteristics
• लक्षणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Characters & Entities

• Vanaras

FAQs

What unique combat characteristics of the Vanaras are highlighted in this verse?

The verse highlights that the Vanaras utilized natural elements like rocks and trees as projectiles and bludgeons, and relied on their physical attributes like claws and teeth, while simultaneously possessing expertise in formal weaponry.

How does this description support the cause of Dharma in the Ramayana?

The creation of such powerful, versatile, and skilled warriors was a divine orchestration to assist Rama in the battle against Ravana, ensuring the restoration of Dharma through a force that combined primal strength with martial skill.