Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 56, Shloka 16

षट्पञ्चाशः सर्गः — वैदेही-आश्वासनम् तथा अरिष्टारोहणम्

Consoling Sita and Ascending Mount Arishta

Devanagari script

मेघपादनिभैः पादैः प्रक्रान्तमिव सर्वतः।जृंम्भमाणमिवाऽकाशे शिखरैरभ्रमालिभिः।।।।

Transliteration

megha-pāda-nibhaiḥ pādaiḥ prakrāntam iva sarvataḥ |

jṛmbhamāṇam ivākāśe śikharair abhra-mālibhiḥ ||

Translation

Avec des contreforts pareils aux pieds des nuages, il semblait marcher de toutes parts ; et, avec des sommets ceints de guirlandes de nuées, il semblait bâiller vers le ciel.

Word by Word

• megha-pāda-nibhaiḥ: with (feet) resembling cloud-feet
• megha-pāda-nibhaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: megha (प्रातिपदिक) + pāda (प्रातिपदिक) + nibha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचनम्; समासः: 'मेघपादेन निभः' = like the feet of clouds

• pādaiḥ: with feet
• pādaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचनम्

• prakrāntam: (as if) striding
• prakrāntam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√kram (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; 'having stepped/stridden'

• iva: as if
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय

• sarvataḥ: everywhere / on all sides
• sarvataḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देश/परिमाण-अर्थे (adverb: 'on all sides')

• jṛmbhamāṇam: (as if) yawning / opening wide
• jṛmbhamāṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jṛmbh (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present middle participle), द्वितीया-एकवचनम्

• iva: as if
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय

• ākāśe: in the sky
• ākāśe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ākāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचनम्

• śikharaiḥ: with peaks
• śikharaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śikhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचनम्

• abhra-mālibhiḥ: with cloud-rows
• abhra-mālibhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhra (प्रातिपदिक) + mālin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचनम्; समासः: 'अभ्राणां माली' = having garlands/rows of clouds

Context

With the ranges of foot-hills appearing like the feet of clouds traversing, with its peaks like garlands of clouds traversing over the mountain, it made one feel it was yawning.

Characters & Entities

• megha (cloud)
• ākāśa (sky)
• parvata (mountain)

FAQs

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

Dharma involves right orientation—lifting one’s vision upward (ākāśa) toward higher aims. The mountain’s ‘striding’ and ‘yawning to the sky’ can be read as a metaphor for expansive, goal-directed effort.

What is the narrative situation?

The landscape is described in animated metaphors, continuing the atmospheric setting within Sundarakāṇḍa 56.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Utsāha (energetic resolve): the imagery of striding suggests forward movement aligned with purposeful mission.