Ramayana — Kishkindha Kanda, Sarga 39, Shloka 44

वानरसेनामिलनम् / The Mustering of the Vanara Hosts

Devanagari script

यथासुखं पर्वतनिझरेषुवनेषु सर्वेषु च वानरेन्द्राः।निवेशयित्वा विधिवद्बलानिबलं बलज्ञः प्रतिपत्तुमीष्टे।।4.39.44।।

Transliteration

yathāsukhaṃ parvatanijhareṣu vaneṣu sarveṣu ca vānarendrāḥ |

niveśayitvā vidhivad balāni balaṃ balajñaḥ pratipattum īṣṭe || 4.39.44 ||

Translation

After properly quartering the forces comfortably—by mountain streams and throughout the forests—the strength-knowing leader resolved to ascertain the army’s full strength.

Word by Word

• यथासुखम्: comfortably, as one pleases
• यथासुखम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा + सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• पर्वतनिझरेषु: in mountain-streams/near mountain cascades
• पर्वतनिझरेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत + निझर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष (पर्वतस्य निझरः), पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• वनेषु: in forests
• वनेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• सर्वेषु: in all
• सर्वेषु: अधिकरण-विशेषण (Qualifier of location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; वनेषु इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• वानरेन्द्राः: lords/leaders of monkeys
• वानरेन्द्राः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वानराणाम् इन्द्राः), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• निवेशयित्वा: having stationed/settled
• निवेशयित्वा: पूर्वकाल (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + √विश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव कृदन्त (Gerund), णिच् (causative) ‘having lodged/settled (them)’

• विधिवत्: according to rule, duly
• विधिवत्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत् (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक अव्यय (manner adverb)

• बलानि: forces/armies
• बलानि: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• बलम्: the strength (of the army)
• बलम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• बलज्ञः: knower of strength
• बलज्ञः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बल + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (बलं जानाति इति), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• प्रतिपत्तुम्: to ascertain
• प्रतिपत्तुम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + √पद् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Infinitive), ‘to ascertain/understand’

• ईष्टे: decides, intends
• ईष्टे: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; ‘wishes/decides’

Context

Just as Anuhlada (son of Hiranyakasipu and brother of Prahlada) took away, Poulomi (Sachi, daughter of Puloma) deceiving Indra, this lowly demon took away Sita, daughter of the king of Videha.

Characters & Entities

• Sugriva (implied as commander)
• Vanara chiefs
• Mountain streams
• Forests

FAQs

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

Rājadharma (duty of leadership): righteous action requires orderly logistics—proper lodging and accurate assessment of strength before undertaking a mission.

What is the narrative situation?

After the vanara forces gather, the leadership stations them in suitable terrain and prepares for coordinated operations.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Practical wisdom and disciplined governance—strength guided by method.