Shloka 27

सप्तदशः सर्गः — देवसंवादः तथा वानर-ऋक्ष-उत्पत्तिः

Divine Council and the Generation of Vanara Allies

Devanagari script

गृह्णीयुरपि मातङ्गान्मत्तान्प्रव्रजतो वने।नर्दमानाश्च नादेन पातयेयुर्विहङ्गमान्।।।।

Transliteration

gṛhṇīyur api mātaṅgān mattān pravrajato vane |

nardamānāś ca nādena pātayeyur vihaṅgamān ||

Translation

Podían incluso apresar elefantes en celo que vagaban por el bosque; y, rugiendo con su clamor, hacían caer a las aves en vuelo.

Word by Word

• dārayeyuḥ: could cleave
• dārayeyuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛ (धातु) (causative णिच्)
• Form: Verb; Potential/Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada; 3rd person, Plural; causative 'could split/tear'

• kṣitim: the earth
• kṣitim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣiti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• padbhyām: with (their) feet
• padbhyām: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Dual (द्विवचन)

• āplaveyuḥ: could leap across
• āplaveyuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: plu (धातु) (आ + causative णिच्)
• Form: Verb; Potential/Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada; 3rd person, Plural; 'could leap across/overpass'

• mahārṇavam: the great ocean
• mahārṇavam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + arṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय: 'great ocean'

• nabhaḥ-sthalam: the sky/firmament
• nabhaḥ-sthalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nabhas (प्रातिपदिक) + sthala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: 'sky-region'

• viśeyuḥ: could enter
• viśeyuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: viś (धातु)
• Form: Verb; Potential/Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada; 3rd person, Plural; 'could enter'

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

• gṛhṇīyuḥ: could seize
• gṛhṇīyuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: grah (धातु)
• Form: Verb; Potential/Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada; 3rd person, Plural; 'could seize'

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) meaning 'also/even'

• toyadān: clouds (water-givers)
• toyadān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: toyada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन)

Context

They could shake mountains and uproot deep-rooted trees. With their speed they could cause disturbance to Samudra, the lord of the rivers.

Characters & Entities

• Mātaṅga (elephants)
• Vana (forest)

FAQs

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

The epic emphasizes that dharma’s protection may require overwhelming capability; however, such force is meaningful only when subordinated to righteous leadership and purpose.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator concludes this sequence by illustrating the Vānaras’ dominance over even powerful animals and the natural world, reinforcing their role as decisive allies.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prabhāva (commanding presence) and bala (strength): an awe-inspiring power that, in the Ramayana’s moral universe, is meant to be harnessed for justice.