Shloka 29

मारीचाश्रमगमनम्

Ravana’s Journey to Maricha’s Hermitage

Devanagari script

तस्य तां सहसा शाखां भारेण पतगोत्तमः।।।।सुपर्णः पर्णबहुलां बभञ्ज च महाबलः।

Transliteration

tasya tāṃ sahasā śākhāṃ bhāreṇa patagottamaḥ | suparṇaḥ parṇabahulāṃ babhañja ca mahābalaḥ ||

Translation

فبثِقَلِ أفضلِ الطير، سوبَرْنَةَ (غارودا) العظيمِ القوّة، انكسرت تلك الغصنُ المورِقُ فجأةً.

Word by Word

• tasya: of him/of that (tree)
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन

• tām: that
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• sahasā: suddenly/at once
• sahasā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sahasā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• śākhām: branch
• śākhām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śākhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• bhāreṇa: with (his) weight
• bhāreṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• pataga-uttamaḥ: best of birds
• pataga-uttamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pataga (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ('best of birds'); प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• suparṇaḥ: Suparṇa (Garuḍa)
• suparṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suparṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग (epithet of Garuḍa)

• parṇa-bahulām: leafy
• parṇa-bahulām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + bahula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष ('abundant in leaves'); द्वितीया, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; विशेषण to śākhām

• babhañja: broke
• babhañja: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhañj (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• mahā-balaḥ: very strong
• mahā-balaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय; प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; विशेषण to suparṇaḥ/patagottamaḥ

Context

Due to the weight of this best of birds, the mighty Garuda, the leafy branch at once broke down.

Characters & Entities

• Suparṇa (Garuḍa)

FAQs

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

Power and capability must be governed by awareness of consequences; even a great being’s mere ‘weight’ can cause harm, foreshadowing the need to use strength responsibly.

What is the narrative situation?

In the recalled Garuḍa episode, Garuḍa lands on a heavily-leaved branch, which breaks under his weight.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Garuḍa’s extraordinary strength (bala), which later becomes meaningful when directed toward compassionate action.