Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 4, Shloka 104

समुद्रतट-प्रयाणम् तथा वेलावन-निवेशः

March to the Seacoast and Encampment at the Shore

Devanagari script

सर्वा स्सेना निवेश्यन्तां वेलायां हरिपुङ्गव ।सम्प्राप्तो मन्त्रकालो नस्सागरस्येह लङ्घने ।।।।

Transliteration

sarvāḥ senā niveśyantāṁ velāyāṁ haripuṅgava |

samprāpto mantrakālo naḥ sāgarasyeha laṅghane |

Translation

"يا أفضل القردة، ليعسكر الجيش بأكمله على شاطئ البحر. لقد حان وقت مشاوراتنا حول كيفية عبور المحيط هنا."

Word by Word

• sarvāḥ: all
• sarvāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• senāḥ: armies/troops
• senāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: senā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• niveśyantām: let them be encamped
• niveśyantām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√viś (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive/benedictive sense): ‘let (them) be encamped’

• velāyām: on the seashore
• velāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: velā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

• haripuṅgava: O best of monkeys
• haripuṅgava: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari-puṅgava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (हरीणां पुंगवः)

• samprāptaḥ: has arrived
• samprāptaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-√prāp (धातु) → samprāpta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय (past participle) ‘arrived’

• mantrakālaḥ: time for counsel
• mantrakālaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra-kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मन्त्रस्य कालः)

• naḥ: for us
• naḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-बहुवचन-रूप (Genitive/Dative plural enclitic) = ‘for us/of us’

• sāgarasya: of the ocean
• sāgarasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāgara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• iha: here
• iha: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (here/now)

• laṅghane: in crossing
• laṅghane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: laṅghana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; भाववाचक (in the matter of crossing)

Context

"O Best of monkeys! Now make preparation for all the army to reside at the sea coast. The time to deliberate about crossing the ocean has set in."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sugrīva
• Vānara army
• ocean (sāgara)

FAQs

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

Dharma as orderly governance: a leader ensures shelter, cohesion, and consultation before undertaking a risky collective action.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma instructs Sugrīva to settle the forces at the coast and convene deliberation about crossing the sea to Laṅkā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Command with clarity—Rāma gives concrete logistical and strategic directions.