Shloka 4.31.18

लक्ष्मणक्रोधः सुग्रीवप्रबोधनं च (Lakshmana’s Wrath and the Summoning of Sugriva)

Devanagari script

तं दृष्ट्वा वानरास्सर्वे लक्ष्मणं पुरुषर्षभम्।शैलशृङ्गाणि शतशः प्रवृद्धांश्च महीरुहान्।।जगृहुः कुञ्जरप्रख्या वानराः पर्वतान्तरे।

Transliteration

taṃ dṛṣṭvā vānarāḥ sarve lakṣmaṇaṃ puruṣarṣabham |

śailaśṛṅgāṇi śataśaḥ pravṛddhāṃś ca mahīruhān ||

jagṛhuḥ kuñjaraprakhyā vānarāḥ parvatāntare ||

Translation

Seeing Lakṣmaṇa, the bull among men, all the monkeys—elephant-like in size amid the mountains—seized by the hundreds rocky crags and fully grown great trees as weapons.

Context

Hundreds of monkeys of the size of elephants stood holding huge trees and boulders of rocks on seeing Lakshmana, the bull among men.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Vānara guards
• Kiṣkindhā (context)
• Mountains (giripradeśa/parvatāntara)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes protective vigilance: the guards act to defend their king and city, though the scene warns how fear and misunderstanding can escalate toward violence.

What is the narrative situation?

Kiṣkindhā’s guards, alarmed by Lakṣmaṇa’s approach and visible anger, arm themselves with natural weapons.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Collective duty (rakṣā-dharma): the vānara sentries demonstrate readiness to protect their capital.