Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 31, Shloka 36

मायाशिरोप्रदर्शनम्

The Display of the Illusory Head of Rāma

Devanagari script

सागरस्यचतीरेषुशैलेषुचवनेषुच ।पिङ्गलास्तेविरूपाक्षैर्बहुभिर्बहवोहताः ।।।।

Transliteration

sāgarasya ca tīreṣu śaileṣu ca vaneṣu ca |

piṅgalās te virūpākṣaiḥ bahubhir bahavo hatāḥ ||

Translation

海辺でも、山々でも、森の中でも、黄褐の眼をもつヴァーナラたちの多くが、凶き眼の羅刹たち多数に討たれた。

Word by Word

• सागरस्य: of the sea
• सागरस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक

• तीरेषु: on the shores
• तीरेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• शैलेषु: on mountains
• शैलेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक

• वनेषु: in forests
• वनेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक

• पिङ्गलाः: the Piṅgalas (tawny ones)
• पिङ्गलाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिङ्गल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; जातिवाचक/विशेष-नाम (a class of vanaras)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• विरूपाक्षैः: by the fierce-eyed ones (rakshasas)
• विरूपाक्षैः: Karana (करण/Agentive instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विरूप-अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक; विरूप + अक्ष)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि-समासः (विरूपाणि अक्षीणि येषाम् = those having deformed/fierce eyes)

• बहुभिः: by many
• बहुभिः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying virūpākṣaiḥ)

• बहवः: many
• बहवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying te/piṅgalāḥ)

• हताः: were killed
• हताः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP) used predicatively; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense: were slain)

Context

"Many fierceeyed Rakshasas killed several Vanaras on the shore of the ocean, in the mountains and woods."

Characters & Entities

• sea
• shore
• mountains
• forests
• vānaras
• rākṣasas

FAQs

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

It underscores the tragic cost of war; dharma demands that force be used for protection and justice, not for indiscriminate slaughter.

What is the narrative situation?

Rākṣasas attack across multiple terrains, causing heavy casualties among the vānaras.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Endurance and sacrifice on the side of dharma, even amid widespread loss.