Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 20

अशोकवनिकाविचारः

Survey of the Aśoka Grove and its Enchanted Landscape

Devanagari script

महालतानां दामानि व्यथमत्तरसा कपिः।यथा प्रावृषि विन्ध्यस्य मेघजालानि मारुतः।।।।

Transliteration

mahālatānāṃ dāmāni vyathamat tarasā kapiḥ |

yathā prāvṛṣi vindhyasya meghajālāni mārutaḥ ||

Translation

大いなる力でその猿は、蔓草の巨大な花綱を揺り動かした。雨季の風がヴィンディヤ山脈の雲の群れを押し流し翻すように。

Word by Word

• महा-लतानाम्: of great creepers
• महा-लतानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + लता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास: महत्यः लताः; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case/Genitive), बहुवचन

• दामानि: garlands/ropes (hanging clusters)
• दामानि: कर्म (Karma/Object of व्यथमत्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• व्यथमत्: shook, agitated
• व्यथमत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यथ् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तरसा: with force/speed
• तरसा: करण (Karana/Instrument; manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणभाव (by force)

• कपिः: the monkey
• कपिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• यथा: as
• यथा: सम्बन्ध (Simile connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक अव्यय (just as)

• प्रावृषि: in the rainy season
• प्रावृषि: कालाधिकरण (Adhikarana/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रावृष् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case/Locative), एकवचन

• विन्ध्यस्य: of the Vindhya (mountain)
• विन्ध्यस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विन्ध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• मेघ-जालानि: masses of clouds
• मेघ-जालानि: कर्म (Karma/Object of implied shaking)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेघ (प्रातिपदिक) + जाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास: मेघानां जालानि; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• मारुतः: wind
• मारुतः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject in simile)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मारुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

Hanuman shook with tremendous speed the huge clusters of creepers hanging there just like stormy wind in rainy season scatters masses of clouds on the Vindhya mountain.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• creepers (latā)
• Vindhya mountains
• wind (māruta)
• clouds (megha)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights disciplined strength: like wind acting according to season and law, power is most dharmic when it moves in harmony with purpose and order.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān’s rapid movement makes the hanging creepers swing in large clusters.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Energetic competence (dakṣatā and vīrya) in executing a mission.