Ramayana — Kishkindha Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 9

अङ्गदोपदेशः समुद्रदर्शन-विषादश्च

Angada’s Counsel and the Vanaras’ Despondency at the Ocean

Devanagari script

विषण्णां वाहिनीं दृष्ट्वा सागरस्य निरीक्षणात्।आश्वासयामास हरीन्भयार्तान् हरिसत्तमः।।।।

Transliteration

viṣaṇṇāṃ vāhinīṃ dṛṣṭvā sāgarasya nirīkṣaṇāt |

āśvāsayāmāsa harīn bhayārtān harisattamaḥ ||

Translation

Seeing the army downcast from gazing at the ocean, Angada—the foremost of monkeys—encouraged the frightened troops.

Word by Word

• विषण्णाम्: despondent
• विषण्णाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषण्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); ‘vāhinīm’ विशेषण

• वाहिनीम्: army
• वाहिनीम्: Karma (कर्म; of ‘dṛṣṭvā’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाहिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having seen’

• सागरस्य: of the ocean
• सागरस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• निरीक्षणात्: from (their) looking at
• निरीक्षणात्: Hetu (हेतु; cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निरीक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular)

• आश्वासयामास: comforted
• आश्वासयामास: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-श्वस् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्/परोक्षभूत (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); णिच्-प्रयोग (causative): ‘caused to be comforted/comforted’

• हरीन्: monkeys
• हरीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• भयार्तान्: distressed by fear
• भयार्तान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भय + आर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुषः (fear-afflicted)

• हरिसत्तमः: the best of monkeys (Angada)
• हरिसत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘among monkeys, the best’

Context

Powerful and heroic monkeys assembled at the northern end of the southern ocean.

Characters & Entities

• Angada
• Ocean (Sāgara)
• Vānara army (Vāhinī)

FAQs

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

Dharma in leadership: when a community is shaken, a responsible leader steadies them with reassurance and restores commitment to the righteous objective.

What is the narrative situation?

The vānaras are frightened and demoralized by the ocean; Angada steps in to raise morale.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Protective leadership (rakṣaṇa-bhāva) and compassion—strength expressed as encouragement, not anger.