Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 42, Shloka 44

लङ्काप्राकारारोहणम् / Assault on Lanka’s Ramparts and the Opening Clash

Devanagari script

तथावृक्षैर्महाकायाःपर्वताग्रैश्चवानराः ।निजघ्नुस्तानिरक्षांसिनखैर्दन्तैश्चवेगिताः ।।।।

Transliteration

tathā vṛkṣair mahākāyāḥ parvatāgraiś ca vānarāḥ |

nijaghnus tāni rakṣāṃsi nakhair dantaiś ca vegitāḥ ||

Translation

So schlugen auch die riesenleibigen Vānaras jene Rākṣasas mit Bäumen und Berggipfeln nieder; und stürmisch eindringend zerrissen sie sie mit Nägeln und Zähnen.

Word by Word

• tathā: thus; likewise
• tathā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (रीति/प्रकार)

• vṛkṣaiḥ: with trees
• vṛkṣaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd/instrumental), Bahuvacana

• mahākāyāḥ: huge-bodied
• mahākāyāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + kāya (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st/nominative), Bahuvacana; karmadhāraya ‘mahān kāyaḥ yeṣām’ (used adjectivally for vānarāḥ)

• parvatāgraiḥ: with mountain-peaks
• parvatāgraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parvata + agra (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (commonly), Tṛtīyā (3rd/instrumental), Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa ‘parvatasya agraṃ’

• ca: and
• ca: Samucchaya
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• vānarāḥ: the Vanaras
• vānarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st/nominative), Bahuvacana

• nijaghnus: struck down
• nijaghnus: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √han (धातु) with ni- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: Liṭ lakāra (perfect), Prathama puruṣa (3rd), Bahuvacana; Parasmaipada

• tāni: those
• tāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā (2nd/accusative), Bahuvacana; refers to ‘rakṣāṃsi’

• rakṣāṃsi: Rakshasas
• rakṣāṃsi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā (2nd/accusative), Bahuvacana

• nakhaiḥ: with nails
• nakhaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nakha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd/instrumental), Bahuvacana

• dantaiḥ: with teeth
• dantaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: danta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd/instrumental), Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Samucchaya
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• vegitāḥ: swift; impetuous
• vegitāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vegita (कृदन्त; √veg ‘to impel, hasten’)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st/nominative), Bahuvacana; past participle used adjectivally

Context

Vanaras in the same manner attacked the Rakshasas, with trees and mountains, swiftly and with their nails and teeth.

Characters & Entities

• Vānaras
• Rākṣasas
• Trees

FAQs

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

Even fierce force can serve dharma when used to restrain wrongdoing; the Vānaras’ raw strength is directed toward restoring righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

The Vānara warriors counterattack using natural weapons—trees, rocks, and their own bodies.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Protective valor: using one’s gifts (strength, speed) in service of a just objective.