Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 47, Shloka 2
पुष्पकविमानेन सीताया युद्धभूमिदर्शनम्
Sita Shown the Battlefield in the Pushpaka
हनुमानङ्गदोनीलःसुषेणःकुमुदोनलः ।गजोगवाक्षोगवयश्शरभोगन्धमादनः ।।।।जाम्बवानृषभःसुन्दोरम्भःशतवलिःपृथुः ।व्यूढानीकाश्चयत्ताश्चद्रुमानादायसर्वतः ।।।।वीक्षमाणादिशस्सर्वास्तिर्यगूर्ध्वंचवानराः ।तृणेष्वपिचचेष्टत्सुराक्षसाइतिमेनिरे ।।।।
hanumān aṅgado nīlaḥ suṣeṇaḥ kumudo nalaḥ | gajo gavākṣo gavayaḥ śarabho gandhamādanaḥ |
jāmbavān ṛṣabhaḥ sundo rambhaḥ śatavaliḥ pṛthuḥ | vyūḍhānīkāś ca yattāś ca drumān ādāya sarvataḥ |
vīkṣamāṇā diśaḥ sarvāḥ tiryag ūrdhvaṃ ca vānarāḥ | tṛṇeṣv api ca ceṣṭatsu rākṣasā iti menire |
Having drawn up the monkey-forces in ordered formation, Hanumān, Aṅgada, Nīla, Suṣeṇa, Kumuda, Nala, Gaja, Gavākṣa, Gavaya, Śarabha, Gandhamādana, Jāmbavān, Ṛṣabha, Sunda, Rambha, Śatavali, and Pṛthu stood on every side holding uprooted trees as weapons. Keeping watch in all directions—sideways and above—they guarded Rāma; and if even a blade of grass stirred, they suspected it to be a rākṣasa’s movement.
Having arranged the army in place, Hanuman, Angada, Nila, Kumuda, Nala, Gava, Sarabha, Gandhamadana, Sanuprastha, Jambavan, Rshaba, Rambha, Satavali, Pruthu, who are always alert were holding trees and looking above, on either side and in all directions and guarded Rama. Whenever there was movement of even a blade of grass, they thought that it might be Rakshasa.
FAQs
Protective duty (rakṣaṇa-dharma): the allies of Rāma uphold dharma through disciplined vigilance, placing the safety of the righteous leader above their own comfort.
After a dangerous turn in the battle, the vānaras organize a tight guard around Rāma, staying alert to any rākṣasa deception or sudden attack.
Alert loyalty and collective discipline: the vānaras show steadfast commitment, readiness, and unity in safeguarding their cause.