Shloka 21

सुवेलारोहणं रावण-सुग्रीव-नियुद्धम्

Ascent of Suvela and the Ravana–Sugriva Duel

Devanagari script

बाहूत्तमैर्वारणवारणाभैर्निवारयन्तौवरवारणाभौ ।चिरेणकालेनतुसम्प्रयुक्तौसञ्चेरतुर्मण्डलमार्गमाशु ।।।।

Transliteration

bāhūttamair vāraṇavāraṇābhair nivārayantau varavāraṇābhau |

cireṇa kālena tu samprayuktau sañceratur maṇḍalamārgam āśu ||

Translation

すぐれた腕をもつ二人は、争う象王のごとく互いを押しとどめ、牽制し合った。久しく組み合って戦ったのち、たちまち輪の道を疾く巡った。

Word by Word

• बाहूत्तमैः: with excellent arms
• बाहूत्तमैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बाहु + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: बाहु-उत्तम (having excellent arms); पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (instrumental plural)

• वारणवारणाभैः: with elephant-like (arms)
• वारणवारणाभैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वारण + वारणाभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: वारण-वारणाभ (elephant-like elephants; i.e., elephant-like); पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• निवारयन्तौ: (the two) warding off / restraining
• निवारयन्तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-वारय् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; धातु: वारय् (causative of √vṛ/√var), उपसर्ग: नि

• वरवारणाभौ: the two excellent elephant-like warriors
• वरवारणाभौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर + वारणाभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: वर-वारणाभ (excellent elephant-like ones); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• चिरेण: after a long time
• चिरेण: Kāla (काल/temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययीभावप्राय (adverbial instrumental): 'after a long time'

• कालेन: with time / in time
• कालेन: Kāla (काल/temporal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (instrumental singular)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक अव्यय (particle)

• सम्प्रयुक्तौ: engaged in close combat
• सम्प्रयुक्तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-प्र-युज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; धातु: युज्, उपसर्ग: सम्+प्र; अर्थ: engaged/locked (in combat)

• सञ्चेरतुः: (they two) moved about
• सञ्चेरतुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-चर् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन; परस्मैपद; धातु: चर्, उपसर्ग: सम्

• मण्डलमार्गम्: the circular course
• मण्डलमार्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डल + मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: मण्डल-मार्ग (circular path); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आशु: swiftly
• आशु: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय (adverb)

Context

Both Ravana and Sugriva endowed with mighty arms, were resisting each other, and keeping away one another engaging in comb at for a long time. They kept on moving, going around each other swiftly.

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma in conflict includes control and measured force—checking an opponent without losing composure, sustaining duty with patience over time.

What is the narrative situation?

The fighters continue a prolonged clinch-and-resist exchange, moving rapidly in circles as each tries to gain advantage.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Stamina and tactical steadiness (kṣānti with vīrya).