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Shloka 37

उत्पातदर्शनं खरसैन्यसमागमश्च

Omens of calamity and the approach of Khara’s army

तत्कार्मुकैराभरणैर्ध्वजैश्च तैर्वर्मभिश्चाग्निसमानवर्णैः।बभूव सैन्यं पिशिताशनानां सूर्योदये नीलमिवाभ्रबृन्दम्।।।।

tatkārmukair ābharaṇair dhvajaiś ca tair varmabhiś cāgnisamānavarṇaiḥ | babhūva sainyaṃ piśitāśanānāṃ sūryodaye nīlam ivābhrabṛndam ||

Avec leurs arcs, parures, étendards et cuirasses aux teintes de feu, l’armée des mangeurs de chair semblait, au lever du soleil, un amas de nuées bleu sombre.

tatwith those
tat:
Karana (करण/Instrument)
TypeAdjective
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally = 'with those'
kārmukaiḥwith bows
kārmukaiḥ:
Karana (करण/Instrument)
TypeNoun
Rootkārmuka (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)
ābharaṇaiḥwith ornaments/armour-adornments
ābharaṇaiḥ:
Karana (करण/Instrument)
TypeNoun
Rootābharaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)
dhvajaiḥwith flags
dhvajaiḥ:
Karana (करण/Instrument)
TypeNoun
Rootdhvaja (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormConjunction particle (समुच्चय-अव्यय)
taiḥby/with them
taiḥ:
Karana (करण/Instrument)
TypeAdjective
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); pronoun used adjectivally with following instrumentals
varmabhiḥwith armours
varmabhiḥ:
Karana (करण/Instrument)
TypeNoun
Rootvarman (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormConjunction particle (समुच्चय-अव्यय)
agni-samāna-varṇaiḥwith fire-like-colored (gear)
agni-samāna-varṇaiḥ:
Karana (करण/Instrument)
TypeAdjective
Rootagni (प्रातिपदिक) + samāna (प्रातिपदिक) + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormInstrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); adjective qualifying the instruments; compound: agni-samānaḥ varṇaḥ = 'color similar to fire'
babhūvabecame/appeared
babhūva:
Kriya (क्रिया/finite verb)
TypeVerb
Rootbhū (धातु)
FormPerfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)
sainyamarmy
sainyam:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootsainya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
piśitāśanānāmof the flesh-eaters (demons)
piśitāśanānām:
Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
TypeNoun
Rootpiśita (प्रातिपदिक) + aśana (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन); compound = 'flesh-eaters' (demons)
sūryodayeat sunrise
sūryodaye:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location-Time)
TypeNoun
Rootsūryodaya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); time-locative
nīlamblue/dark
nīlam:
Karta-prakāra (कर्तृ-विशेषण/subject complement)
TypeAdjective
Rootnīla (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicative adjective agreeing with abhrabṛndam
ivalike
iva:
Upamāna-marker (उपमान-सूचक)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootiva (अव्यय)
FormSimile particle (उपमा-अव्यय)
abhrabṛndama mass of clouds
abhrabṛndam:
Upamāna (उपमान/standard of comparison)
TypeNoun
Rootabhra (प्रातिपदिक) + bṛnda (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); compound = 'mass of clouds'

The army of demons equipped with blazing armour, bows and banners appeared like a mass of blue clouds at Sunrise.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē caturviṅśassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the twentyfourth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

D
dhvaja (banners)

FAQs

The verse contrasts appearances with moral reality: splendor of arms does not equal righteousness; Dharma depends on intent and conduct, not display.

A concluding visual description of the rākṣasa host as it assembles for battle, creating an ominous atmosphere.

Rama’s impending steadfastness is implied by the scale of the threat—virtue stands firm even when faced with a vast, imposing enemy.