Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

स तुप्रहाराभिहतस्सुग्रीवेणमहागजः ।अपासर्पद्धनुर्मात्रंनिषसादननाद च ।।।।

Transliteration

sa tu prahārābhihataḥ sugrīveṇa mahāgajaḥ | apāsarpad dhanurmātraṃ niṣasāda nanāda ca ||

Translation

Frappé violemment par Sugrīva, le grand éléphant recula d’une longueur d’arc, s’affaissa dans la détresse et poussa un puissant barrissement.

Word by Word

• सः: he/that
• सः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तु: indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विशेषार्थक (particle)

• प्रहाराभिहतः: struck by a blow
• प्रहाराभिहतः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रहार + अभि-हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (प्रहारेण अभिहतः)

• सुग्रीवेण: by Sugriva
• सुग्रीवेण: कर्तृ (Kartṛ/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुग्रीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• महागजः: the great elephant
• महागजः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā + गज (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः

• अपासर्पत्: retreated
• अपासर्पत्: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप-√सृप् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• धनुर्मात्रम्: a bow-length (distance)
• धनुर्मात्रम्: अधिकरण/परिमाण (Measure adverbial)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् + मात्रा (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; परिमाणवाचक-तत्पुरुषः (धनुषः मात्रा = ‘a bow’s length’)

• निषसाद: sat down/sank
• निषसाद: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√सद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ननाद: roared
• ननाद: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

Context

Just as moths cannot bear the blazing fire, the Vanaras could not bear the glowing hail of Ravana's arrows even for an instant.

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• Elephant

FAQs

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

The verse underscores consequence in righteous resistance: force used in defense can halt an advancing threat, restoring balance on the battlefield.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva’s blow forces the war-elephant to retreat and falter.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Strength guided by purpose—effective power (bala) in service of protecting allies.