Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 97, Shloka 30

सप्तनवतितमः सर्गः (Yuddha Kāṇḍa 97): Sugrīva’s Onslaught and the Fall of Virūpākṣa

Devanagari script

ददर्शान्तरंतस्यविरूपाक्षस्यवानरः ।।।।ततोन्यपातयत्क्रोधाच्छङ्खदेशेमहात्तलम् ।

Transliteration

dadarśāntaraṃ tasya virūpākṣasya vānaraḥ | tato nyapātayat krodhāc chaṅkhadeśe mahāttalam ||

Translation

Der Vānara erkannte eine Lücke bei Virūpākṣa; da ließ er, vom Zorn entflammt, einen gewaltigen Handflächenschlag auf dessen Schläfe niedergehen.

Word by Word

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: क्रिया (main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अन्तरम्: an opening
• अन्तरम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अर्थ: अवकाशः/छिद्रम् (opening)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुं, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• विरूपाक्षस्य: of Virupaksha
• विरूपाक्षस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विरूपाक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• वानरः: the monkey
• वानरः: कर्ता (Karta/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ततः: thereupon
• ततः: क्रियाविशेषण (sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रमवाचक-अव्यय

• न्यपातयत्: brought down/struck down
• न्यपातयत्: क्रिया (main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√पत् (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रयोजक (causative) + लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• क्रोधात्: from anger
• क्रोधात्: हेतु (Hetu/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; हेतौ (cause)

• शङ्ख-देशे: on the temple (side of head)
• शङ्ख-देशे: अधिकरण (Adhikarana/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक) + देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (शङ्खस्य देशः = temple region)

• महात्तलम्: a huge palm-blow
• महात्तलम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक) + तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् तलः)

Context

The Vanara, seeing the blow given by Virupaksha, enraged Sugriva hit him with another palm on the temporal bone by which he fell.

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• Virūpākṣa

FAQs

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

It shows the tension between righteous duty and anger: dharma allows decisive defense, but warns that krodha can become the motive rather than justice.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva notices Virūpākṣa’s vulnerability and lands a heavy palm-strike on his temple.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Alertness (apramāda) and tactical perception—seeing the ‘opening’ at the crucial moment.