Shloka 243

Devanagari script

हरयो विविशुर्व्योम प्रगृह्ा महती: शिला: । वानरोंने देखा कि वह राक्षस छिपकर निरन्तर बाणोंकी झड़ी लगा रहा है, तब वे हाथोंमें बड़ी-बड़ी शिलाएँ लिये आकाशमें उड़ गये और उसकी खोज करने लगे

Transliteration

harayo viviśur vyoma pragṛhya mahatīḥ śilāḥ |

Translation

Mārkaṇḍeya said: The monkeys, seizing great rocks in their hands, sprang up into the sky. Seeing the rākṣasa hidden and continuously showering arrows, they took to the air to search him out—meeting stealth and aggression with alertness, collective effort, and decisive action.

Word by Word

• हरयः: the monkeys (Harīs)
• हरयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• विविशुः: entered
• Type: Verb
• Root: विश्
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• व्योम: the sky
• व्योम: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्योमन्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• प्रगृह्य: having seized/taken up
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• महतीः: great, large
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• शिलाः: rocks, stones
• शिलाः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिला
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• harayaḥ (vānaras/monkeys)
• vyoma (sky)
• śilāḥ (large rocks)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

When faced with concealed harm and relentless attack, one should respond with vigilance, coordinated effort, and appropriate strength—seeking the source of danger rather than reacting blindly.

What is happening in the narrative?

The monkeys notice a rākṣasa attacking from concealment with a continuous volley of arrows; they lift large rocks and leap into the sky to locate and confront him.