Shloka 19

सुवेलारोहणं रावण-सुग्रीव-नियुद्धम्

Ascent of Suvela and the Ravana–Sugriva Duel

Devanagari script

शार्दूरसिंहाविवजातदर्पौगजेन्द्रपोताविवसम्प्रयुक्तौ ।संहत्यचापीड्यचतावुरोभ्यांनिपेततुर्वैयुगपद्धरण्याम् ।।।।

Transliteration

śārdūrasiṃhāviva jātadarpau gajendrapotāviva samprayuktau |

saṃhatya cāpīḍya ca tāv urobhāṃ nipetatur vai yugapad dharaṇyām ||

Translation

驕りに燃える虎と獅子のごとく、組み合う若き象王のごとく、二人は寄り合い、胸と胸とを押し潰すほどに圧し合って、同時に大地へと倒れ伏した。

Word by Word

• śārdūra-siṃhau: a tiger and a lion
• śārdūra-siṃhau: Upamāna (उपमान/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śārdūra (प्रातिपदिक) + siṃha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual; द्वन्द्वः (tiger and lion)

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā (उपमा/Comparison marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Comparative particle (उपमा-वाचक अव्यय)

• jāta-darpau: whose pride had arisen
• jāta-darpau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jāta (कृदन्त; जन् क्त) + darpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; समासः कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषः (jātaḥ darpaḥ yayoh)

• gajendra-potau: two young lordly elephants
• gajendra-potau: Upamāna (उपमान/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaja-indra (प्रातिपदिक) + pota (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (gajendrayoḥ potau)

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā (उपमा/Comparison marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Comparative particle

• samprayuktau: engaged together
• samprayuktau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-pra-yuj (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Dual; engaged/locked together

• saṃhatya: having closed in
• saṃhatya: Kriyā (क्रिया/Non-finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-han (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), indeclinable; sense: coming together/closing in

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle

• āpīḍya: having pressed
• āpīḍya: Kriyā (क्रिया/Non-finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-pīḍ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), indeclinable; pressing/squeezing

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle

• tau: those two
• tau: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• urobhyām: with (their) chests
• urobhyām: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Dual; तृतीया-द्विवचन

• nipetatuḥ: fell down
• nipetatuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-pat (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person, Dual; परस्मैपदम्

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चयार्थक अव्यय)

• yugapat: simultaneously
• yugapat: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yugapat (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (एककालवाचक अव्यय)

• dharaṇyām: on the ground
• dharaṇyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharaṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

Context

Remaining there for a short while, Rama observed the view of Lanka in all directions. He saw Lanka built on the charming peak of Trikuta strongly by Vishwakarma, endowed with delightful groves.

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

The verse warns that uncontrolled darpa (pride) drives beings into destructive collision; dharma in battle requires courage governed by self-mastery, not ego.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva and Rāvaṇa grapple in close combat, press together with force, and both tumble down simultaneously.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Physical valor and endurance are highlighted, while also implicitly contrasting them with the danger of pride.