Valmiki Ramayana 1.24.14: Bala Kanda, Sarga 24, Shloka 14

गङ्गा-सरयू-सङ्गमः, मलद-करूश-देशकथा, ताटकावनप्रवेशोपदेशः

The Confluence of Gaṅgā and Sarayū; the Tale of Malada-Karūśa; Counsel on Tātakā’s Forest

Spoken by Rama to ViśvāmitraSetting: Same grim forest region; deeper auditory/visual signs of wildlifePlaces named: vana (forest)Moving inward; assessing hazards

Devanagari script

नानाप्रकारैश्शकुनै र्वाश्यद्भिर्भैरवस्वनैः ।

सिंहव्याघ्रवराहैश्च वारणैश्चोपशोभितम् ॥१४॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 1.24.14

Transliteration

nānā-prakāraiḥ śakunair vāśyadbhir bhairava-svanaiḥ |

siṃha-vyāghra-varāhaiś ca vāraṇaiś copaśobhitam ||14||

Translation

कितनी तरह की चिड़िया हैं, सब अजब आवाज़ें कर रही हैं। शेर, बाघ और भालू भी हैं। हाथी भी घूम रहे हैं। यह जंगल सच में बहुत खतरनाक है।

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Word by Word

• नाना-प्रकारैः: of various kinds
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + प्रकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (various kinds); पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति; बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying 'शकुनैः')
• Role: करण/सह (Instrumental)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• शकुनैः: by birds
• Type: Noun
• Root: शकुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति; बहुवचन
• Role: करण/सह (Instrumental: with/by)

• वाश्यद्भिः: shrieking/crying
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाश् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति; बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying 'शकुनैः')
• Role: करण/सह (Instrumental)

• भैरव-स्वनैः: with frightful sounds
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भैरव (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (with frightful sounds); पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति; बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying 'शकुनैः')
• Role: करण/सह (Instrumental)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• सिंह-व्याघ्र-वराहैः: with lions, tigers, and boars
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिंह (प्रातिपदिक) + व्याघ्र (प्रातिपदिक) + वराह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व (copulative: lions, tigers, boars); पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति; बहुवचन
• Role: करण/सह (Instrumental: with/by)
• Compound: Dvandva

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction: and)
• Role: समुच्चय (Coordinator)

• वारणैः: with elephants
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति; बहुवचन
• Role: करण/सह (Instrumental: with/by)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक
• Role: समुच्चय (Coordinator)

• उपशोभितम्: adorned/beautified
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप+शुभ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying 'वनम्' from context)
• Role: विशेषण (Qualifier)

Sandhi Notes

• नानाप्रकारैश्शकुनैः = नाना-प्रकारैः + शकुनैः
• शकुनै र्वाश्यद्भिः = शकुनैः + वाश्यद्भिः
• वारणैश्चोपशोभितम् = वारणैः + च + उपशोभितम्

Context

"It resounds with the frightful shricks of various kinds of birds. Lions, tigers, boars and elephants prowl about.

The teaching

A righteous mission proceeds with clear-eyed awareness of real dangers; courage is not denial but preparedness.

Ethical theme

Kṣatriya-dharma (protective readiness)

For your practice

Supports contemplation on fear-management and disciplined courage.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Bhayanaka (fear), with Vira (heroism)

Mood

Threatening, charged, alert

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Courage
• Readiness
• Itihasa

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• forest
• birds
• lions
• tigers
• elephants

FAQs

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

Dharma involves prudent awareness: recognizing the real conditions of a place is part of protecting others and fulfilling one’s mission responsibly.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma continues describing the forest’s alarming sounds and dangerous animals while seeking context from Viśvāmitra.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Alertness (apramāda): careful attention to signs of danger without losing moral clarity.