Shloka 4.37.23

वानरसेनामोचनम् / Mobilization of the Vanara Hosts

Devanagari script

फलमूलेन जीवन्तो हिमवन्तमुपाश्रिताः।तेषां कोटिसहस्राणां सहस्रं समवर्तत।।।।

Transliteration

phalamūlena jīvanto himavantam upāśritāḥ |

teṣāṃ koṭisahasrāṇāṃ sahasraṃ samavartata ||

Translation

Living on fruits and roots and having taken refuge in sacred Himavat, among their thousands of crores yet another thousand of those vast hosts stood ready.

Context

Then monkeys residing at mount Himavan feeding on fruits and roots came in thousands of crores. (This number is called Shankha 1000,000,000,000,0, it is one digit higher than Mahapadma.)

Characters & Entities

• Himavat (Himalaya)
• vānaras (monkeys)
• fruits and roots (phala-mūla)

FAQs

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

Dharma is readiness to act for righteousness even from a simple, ascetic way of life—those sustained by fruits and roots still rise to protect truth.

What is the narrative situation?

Vālmīki describes the enormous Himavat-based contingents that assemble, emphasizing scale and preparedness.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Simplicity joined with strength—self-restraint (mitāhāra) paired with willingness to serve.