Shloka 79

युद्धकाण्डे एकोनषष्टितमः सर्गः

Rāvaṇa’s Assault on Nīla and Lakṣmaṇa; Hanumān Bears Rāma

Devanagari script

अभिवृष्टश्शरौघेणमेघेनेवमहाबलः ।ह्रस्वंकृत्वाततोरूपंध्वजाग्रेनिपपातह ।।6.59.79।।

Transliteration

abhivṛṣṭaḥ śaraughena megheneva mahābalaḥ | hrasvaṃ kṛtvā tato rūpaṃ dhvajāgre nipapāta ha ||6.59.79||

Translation

Bien qu’inondé par ce flot de flèches, tel une montagne sous les nuées d’orage, le puissant Nīla rapetissa son corps et se posa sur la pointe de l’étendard du arc de Rāvaṇa.

Word by Word

• अभिवृष्टः: showered upon
• अभिवृष्टः: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि + वृष् (धातु) → अभिवृष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative Singular; 'rained upon'

• शरौघेण: by a flood of arrows
• शरौघेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर + ओघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental Singular; तत्पुरुषः: शराणाम् ओघः (flood of arrows)

• मेघेन: by a cloud
• मेघेन: Upamana-karana (उपमान-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental Singular

• इव: like
• इव: Upama-marker (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, simile particle (उपमा-निपात)

• महाबलः: the mighty one
• महाबलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular; subject (one of great strength)

• ह्रस्वम्: small/short
• ह्रस्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ह्रस्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative Singular; object-complement with kṛtvā

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb

• रूपम्: form
• रूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative Singular; object of kṛtvā (made the form small)

• ध्वजाग्रे: on the flagstaff tip
• ध्वजाग्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वज + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative Singular; तत्पुरुषः: ध्वजस्य अग्रे (on the tip/top of the banner/flagstaff)

• निपपात: fell/landed
• निपपात: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + पत् (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular; Parasmaipada

• ह: indeed
• ह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya particle (निपात) used in narration/emphasis

Context

When Neela was covered by Ravana's arrows, it was just as clouds cover mountain peaks. Neela reduced his size and landed on top of Ravana's bow.

Characters & Entities

• Nīla
• Rāvaṇa
• arrows (śara)
• dhvaja (standard/banner)
• bow (implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma here highlights steadiness under adversity: even when overwhelmed, one should keep clarity and act skillfully rather than panic.

What is the narrative situation?

Nīla is struck by an arrow-storm from Rāvaṇa, but he uses agility and a strategic transformation to reach a position directly atop Rāvaṇa’s weapon.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Nīla’s presence of mind and fearlessness—he turns a disadvantage (being covered by arrows) into a tactical advantage.