Shloka 11

सप्तनवतितमः सर्गः (Yuddha Kāṇḍa 97): Sugrīva’s Onslaught and the Fall of Virūpākṣa

Devanagari script

राक्षसानामनीकेषुशैलवर्षंववर्ष ह ।अश्मवर्षंयथामेघःपक्षिसङ्घेषुकानने ।।।।

Transliteration

rākṣasānām anīkeṣu śailavarṣaṃ vavarṣa ha | aśmavarṣaṃ yathā meghaḥ pakṣisaṅgheṣu kānane ||6.97.11||

Translation

Sur les rangs de bataille des rakshasas, il fit pleuvoir une averse de rochers, comme un nuage fait pleuvoir de la grêle sur des volées d'oiseaux dans une forêt.

Word by Word

• राक्षसानाम्: of the Rakshasas
• राक्षसानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• अनीकेषु: among the armies/hosts
• अनीकेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनीक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; Neuter, Locative, Plural

• शैलवर्षम्: a shower of rocks
• शैलवर्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैल + वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ववर्ष: rained down
• ववर्ष: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; Perfect, 3rd person, Singular

• ह: indeed
• ह: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पदपूरक/निपात (expletive particle)

• अश्मवर्षम्: a shower of stones
• अश्मवर्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्मन् + वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• यथा: as; like
• यथा: Upama (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमा/प्रकारवाचक (comparative/relative adverb)

• मेघः: a cloud
• मेघः: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पक्षिसङ्घेषु: among flocks of birds
• पक्षिसङ्घेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्षि + सङ्घ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; Masculine, Locative, Plural

• कानने: in the forest
• कानने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कानन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; Neuter, Locative, Singular

Context

Just as clouds shower hail stones on flocks of birds in the forest, Sugriva rained showers of rocks on the Rakshasas.

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• rākṣasas
• forest (kānana)
• cloud (megha)

FAQs

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

The epic frames force as legitimate when used in a dharmic campaign: power is portrayed as an instrument supporting justice, not mere cruelty.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva hurls boulders in mass, overwhelming the rākṣasa ranks.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Strategic vigor—using the vānara mode of combat (rocks, mountains) effectively in battle.