Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 23, Shloka 16

निमित्तदर्शनम्

Portents Before the March to Laṅkā

Devanagari script

राघवस्यप्रियार्थंतुसुतरांवीर्यशालिनाम् ।हरीणांकर्मचेष्टाभिस्तुतोषरघुपुङ्गवः ।।6.23.16।।

Transliteration

rāghavasya priyārthaṁ tu sutarāṁ vīryaśālinām | harīṇāṁ karmacēṣṭābhis tutoṣa raghupuṅgavaḥ ||

Translation

And those exceptionally valiant vānaras, wishing to please Rāghava, performed spirited deeds and gestures; seeing them, the foremost of the Raghu line was delighted.

Word by Word

• rāghavasya: of Raghava (Rama)
• rāghavasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• priya-artham: for (his) pleasure
• priya-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/उद्देश्य), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (for the purpose)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात/particle; contrast/emphasis)

• sutarām: exceedingly
• sutarām: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sutarām (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (अतिशयार्थक/intensifier adverb)

• vīryaśālinām: of the valiant
• vīryaśālinām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīrya (प्रातिपदिक) + śālin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; विशेषण (genitive plural: ‘of the valor-possessing’)

• harīṇām: of the vanaras
• harīṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• karma-ceṣṭābhiḥ: by (their) actions and efforts
• karma-ceṣṭābhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karma (प्रातिपदिक) + ceṣṭā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (actions and efforts)

• tutoṣa: was pleased, rejoiced
• tutoṣa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tuṣ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• raghu-puṅgavaḥ: the foremost of the Raghus
• raghu-puṅgavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raghu (प्रातिपदिक) + puṅgava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘best of the Raghus’

Context

"The wind is blowing mixed with dust, even the earth is cracking, mountain tops are shaking, and huge trees are breaking and falling down."

Characters & Entities

• Rama (Raghava, Raghupuṅgava)
• Vanaras (Harīs)

FAQs

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

Dharma is devoted service (sevā) offered with sincerity: the vānaras express loyalty and morale-building effort to strengthen righteous leadership and collective purpose.

What is the narrative situation?

As the host proceeds, the vānaras energetically act to uplift Rama’s spirit, and Rama responds with approving joy.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Devotion and morale—cheerful, loyal support of a righteous leader; and Rama’s graciousness in receiving it.