Shloka 27

द्विचत्वारिंशः सर्गः (Sarga 42): Omens in Laṅkā, Report to Rāvaṇa, and the Kinkara Assault

Devanagari script

ते कपीन्द्रं समासाद्य तोरणस्थमवस्थितम्।अभिपेतुर्महावेगाः पतङ्गा इव पावकम्।।5.42.27।।

Transliteration

te kapīndraṃ samāsādya toraṇastham avasthitam | abhipetur mahāvegāḥ pataṅgā iva pāvakam || 5.42.27 ||

Translation

S’étant approchés du seigneur des singes, debout près de l’arche du portail, ils se ruèrent sur lui avec une grande vitesse, tels des papillons de nuit se jetant dans la flamme.

Word by Word

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural

• kapīndram: the monkey-lord (Hanuman)
• kapīndram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapi (कपि) + indra (इन्द्र)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; 'lord of monkeys'

• samāsādya: having approached
• samāsādya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sam+ā+sad (सद् धातु)
• Form: Gerund/absolutive (क्त्वान्त) = 'having approached'

• toraṇa-stham: standing on the archway
• toraṇa-stham: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: toraṇa (तोरण) + stha (स्थ प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; adjective qualifying kapīndram; 'standing on/at the arch'

• avasthitam: stationed/standing
• avasthitam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ava+sthā (स्था धातु, क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; past participle qualifying kapīndram

• abhipetuḥ: rushed upon
• abhipetuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi+pat (पत् धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Third person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural; Parasmaipada

• mahā-vegāḥ: very swift
• mahā-vegāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (महा) + vega (वेग प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural; adjective qualifying te; 'of great speed'

• pataṅgāḥ: moths
• pataṅgāḥ: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pataṅga (पतङ्ग प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/comparison)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Simile particle (उपमा-निपात)

• pāvakam: fire
• pāvakam: Upameya (उपमेय/goal of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāvaka (पावक प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular

Context

The kinkaras rushed towards the leader of vanaras who stood near the archway like the moths rushing towards the flame.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān (kapīndra)
• Kiṅkaras (implied by continuity)

FAQs

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

It conveys the moral logic of self-destructive aggression: when one attacks righteousness blindly, the attacker is harmed—like moths drawn to fire. Dharma stands firm; adharma collapses through its own rashness.

What is the narrative situation?

The Kiṅkaras charge at Hanumān, who is positioned near the gateway arch in the garden complex.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanumān’s fearless composure—remaining stationed and ready despite an onrushing multitude.