Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 56, Shloka 12

षट्पञ्चाशः सर्गः — वैदेही-आश्वासनम् तथा अरिष्टारोहणम्

Consoling Sita and Ascending Mount Arishta

Devanagari script

तोयौघननिस्स्वनैर्मन्द्रैः प्राधीतमिव पर्वतम्।प्रगीतमिव विस्पष्टैर्नानाप्रस्रवणस्वनैः।।।।

Transliteration

toyaugha-nanissvanair mandraiḥ prādhītam iva parvatam |

pragītam iva vispaṣṭair nānā-prasravaṇa-svanaiḥ ||

Translation

奔流の低く響く轟きによって、山はまるで聖なる詠唱を高らかに誦するかのようであり、数多の滝の澄みわたる多彩な音色によって、まるで歌っているかのようであった。

Word by Word

• toya: water
• toya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: toya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, (in compound) stem-form

• ogha: flood, mass
• ogha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ogha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, (in compound) stem-form

• nissvanaiḥ: with sounds/roarings
• nissvanaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niḥsvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; in compound toya-ogha-niḥsvanaiḥ

• mandraiḥ: deep, resonant
• mandraiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mandra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; agrees with nissvanaiḥ

• prādhītam: as if reciting
• prādhītam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण; upamā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prādhīta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; pra-√adhī (धातु) क्त)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; ‘recited/learnt’ used in simile

• iva: as if
• iva: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, simile particle

• parvatam: mountain
• parvatam: Karma (कर्म/object of description)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• pragītam: as if sung
• pragītam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण; upamā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pragīta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; pra-√gai (धातु) क्त)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; ‘sung’ used in simile

• iva: as if
• iva: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, simile particle

• vispaṣṭaiḥ: clear, distinct
• vispaṣṭaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vispaṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; agrees with svanaiḥ

• nānā: various
• nānā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nānā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, distributive adjective/adverb ‘various’ (in compound)

• prasravaṇa: waterfall, spring
• prasravaṇa: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prasravaṇa (प्रातिपदिक; pra-√sru (धातु) ल्युट्)
• Form: Neuter, (in compound) stem-form; ‘flowing forth’, waterfall/spring

• svanaiḥ: with sounds
• svanaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; in compound nānā-prasravaṇa-svanaiḥ

Context

With the loud sounds of masses of gurgling waters, the mountain appeared as thoughit was standing and reciting (the Vedas) loudly. With murmuring sounds of different waterfalls, it appeared as though the mountain was singing. (The sage differentiates the steadily trickling water-sound from the rhythmic musical sounds of water-falls.)

Characters & Entities

• parvata (mountain)
• prasravaṇa (waterfalls/springs)

FAQs

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

Though descriptive, it supports Dharma by portraying the world as ordered and meaningful—nature itself resembles sacred recitation and song, reinforcing reverence, restraint, and attentiveness (a Dharmic disposition) in the listener.

What is the narrative situation?

A scenic description occurs in Sundarakāṇḍa 56 as the narration moves through the environment surrounding Hanumān’s return journey context, highlighting the mountain’s living soundscape.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Indirectly, it emphasizes sāttvika attentiveness and reverence—qualities that align with Hanumān’s disciplined, purposeful conduct in the wider episode.