Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 27, Shloka 14

वानर-ऋक्ष-सेना-प्रशंसा

Cataloguing the Vanara and Bear Forces

Devanagari script

आरुह्यपर्वताग्रेभ्योमहाभ्रविपुला: शिलाः ।मुञ्चन्तिविपुलाकारानमृत्योरुद्विजन्तिच ।।6.27.13।।राक्षसानांचसदृशाःपिशाचानांचरोमशाः ।एतस्यसैन्याबहवोविचरन्त्यग्नितेजसः ।।6.27.14।।

Transliteration

āruhya parvatāgrebhyo mahābhra-vipulāḥ śilāḥ | muñcanti vipulākārān mṛtyor udvijanti ca ||

rākṣasānāṃ ca sadṛśāḥ piśācānāṃ ca romaśāḥ | etasya sainyā bahavo vicaranty agni-tejasaḥ ||

Translation

Climbing the mountain-peaks, they hurl vast boulders—like great masses of cloud—and, huge of form, they do not shrink even from death. Many in his host roam about, hairy-bodied and blazing like fire, resembling Rākṣasas and Piśācas in their fearsome appearance.

Word by Word

• rākṣasānām: of rākṣasas
• rākṣasānām: Upamāna/saṃbandha (genitive of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (genitive), Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• sadṛśāḥ: resembling
• sadṛśāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa of "sainyāḥ"
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sadṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• piśācānām: of piśācas
• piśācānām: Upamāna/saṃbandha (genitive of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: piśāca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• romaśāḥ: hairy / bristly
• romaśāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa of "sainyāḥ"
• Type: Adjective
• Root: romaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• etasya: of this (one)
• etasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• sainyāḥ: soldiers / troops
• sainyāḥ: Karta (subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sainya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• bahavaḥ: many
• bahavaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa of "sainyāḥ"
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• vicaranti: they roam / move about
• vicaranti: Kriyā (predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√car (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (present), Prathama-puruṣa, Bahuvacana, parasmaipada

• agni-tejasaḥ: fire-radiant / blazing
• agni-tejasaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa of "sainyāḥ"
• Type: Adjective
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक) + tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa: 'agner iva tejas' (fire-like radiance) used adjectivally

Context

"His assistance was given to Indra in the war between Devas and demons and in turn he obtained many boons."

Characters & Entities

• Sāraṇa
• Rāvaṇa
• Rākṣasas
• Piśācas
• mountain peaks

FAQs

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

Fearlessness in the service of a chosen righteous duty is praised—courage that does not retreat even before death when protecting a dharmic cause.

What is the narrative situation?

Sāraṇa describes the terrifying battle-readiness and appearance of a leader’s troops, emphasizing their strength and fearlessness.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Abhaya (fearlessness) and utsāha (energetic resolve) displayed by disciplined troops in war.