Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 36, Shloka 35

सीताप्रत्यय-प्रदानम्

Sita’s Recognition and Reassurance by the Envoy

Devanagari script

विष्टम्भयित्वा बाणौघैरक्षोभ्यं वरुणालयम्।करिष्यति पुरीं लङ्कां काकुत्स्थः शान्तराक्षसाम्।।।।

Transliteration

viṣṭambhayitvā bāṇaughair akṣobhyaṃ varuṇālayam | kariṣyati purīṃ laṅkāṃ kākutsthaḥ śāntarākṣasām ||

Translation

Con un torrente de flechas, Kākutstha someterá incluso la morada inconmovible de Varuṇa —el océano— y hará que la ciudad de Laṅkā quede libre de rākṣasas.

Word by Word

• viṣṭambhayitvā: having immobilized
• viṣṭambhayitvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√stambh (धातु)
• Form: Causative (णिच्) gerund (क्त्वा): ‘having caused to become still/immobile’

• bāṇaughaiḥ: by torrents of arrows
• bāṇaughaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ogha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘by torrents/streams of arrows’

• akṣobhyam: unshakable
• akṣobhyam: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-kṣobhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; qualifying varuṇālayam

• varuṇālayam: Varuṇa’s abode (the ocean)
• varuṇālayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varuṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ālaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; ‘abode of Varuṇa’ (i.e., ocean)

• kariṣyati: will make
• kariṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ (लुट्, periphrastic future), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• purīm: city
• purīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; in apposition with laṅkām

• laṅkām: Laṅkā
• laṅkām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: laṅkā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; object of kariṣyati

• kākutsthaḥ: Kākutstha (Rāma)
• kākutsthaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kākutstha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• śānta-rākṣasām: with the demons subdued
• śānta-rākṣasām: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śānta (प्रातिपदिक) + rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; compound used adjectivally for laṅkām/purīm: ‘with rākṣasas pacified/quelled’

Context

"Kakutstha Rama will still the imperturbable abode of Varuna (ocean) by the torrent of his arrows and rid the city of Lanka of all the demons.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Varuṇa
• Ocean (Varuṇālaya)
• Laṅkā
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Dharma is presented as the restoration of moral order: Rāma’s force is not mere conquest but the removal of destructive adharma (rākṣasa violence) from Laṅkā, even if nature itself (the ocean) must be compelled to yield.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān reassures Sītā that Rāma will cross obstacles as vast as the ocean and will defeat the rākṣasas, implying the coming campaign against Laṅkā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s steadfast resolve aligned with righteousness—unyielding commitment to rescue Sītā and punish wrongdoing.