Shloka 21

सप्तदशः सर्गः — देवसंवादः तथा वानर-ऋक्ष-उत्पत्तिः

Divine Council and the Generation of Vanara Allies

Devanagari script

देवा महर्षिगन्धर्वास्तार्क्ष्या यक्षा यशस्विन:।नागा: किम्पुरुषाश्चैव सिद्धविद्याधरोरगा:।।1.17.20।। बहवो जनयामासुर्हृष्टास्तत्र सहस्रश:।वानरान्सुमहाकायान्सर्वान्वै वनचारिण:।।1.17.21।।अप्सरस्सु च मुख्यासु तथा विद्याधरीषु च।नागकन्यासु च तथा गन्धर्वीणां तनूषु च ।।1.17.22।।

Transliteration

kāmarūpabalopetā yathākāmaṁ vicāriṇaḥ |

siṁhaśārdūlasadṛśā darpeṇa ca balena ca ||

Translation

Dotados de fuerza y del poder de asumir formas a voluntad, vagaban libremente; en orgullo y vigor eran como leones y tigres.

Word by Word

• devāḥ: gods
• devāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• maharṣi-gandharvāḥ: great seers and gandharvas
• maharṣi-gandharvāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maharṣi (प्रातिपदिक) + gandharva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (copulative)

• tārkṣyāḥ: garuḍas
• tārkṣyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tārkṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• yakṣāḥ: yakṣas
• yakṣāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• yaśasvinaḥ: renowned
• yaśasvinaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yaśasvin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); विशेषण (adjective) qualifying the preceding groups

• nāgāḥ: nāgas/serpents
• nāgāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• kimpuruṣāḥ: kimpuruṣas
• kimpuruṣāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kimpuruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• eva: indeed/also
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निपात)

• siddha-vidyādhara-uragāḥ: siddhas, vidyādharas, and serpents
• siddha-vidyādhara-uragāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siddha (प्रातिपदिक) + vidyādhara (प्रातिपदिक) + uraga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (list: siddhas, vidyādharas, and uragas)

Context

The devatas, rishis, gandharvas, garudas, yakshas, kimpurushas, siddhas, vidyadharas, uragas and many others were immensely pleased. Thousands of gigantic monkeys wandering in forests were procreated from principal apsarasas vidhyadaris, nagas, and gandharvas.

Characters & Entities

• Vānaras
• Siṁha (lion)
• Śārdūla (tiger)

FAQs

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

Extraordinary abilities become dharmic when oriented toward protection and right action; the epic prepares the ethical frame for power as service.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator describes the innate capacities of the newly generated Vānara hosts—shape-shifting, immense strength, and fearless bearing.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vīrya (heroic vigor) and utsāha (energetic readiness), tempered by the implicit expectation that such power supports a righteous mission.