Shloka 23

षट्चत्वारिंशः सर्गः

Ravana Deploys Five Generals; Hanuman Destroys the Commanders and the Remaining Host

Devanagari script

स कपिर्वारयामास तं व्योम्नि शरवर्षिणम्।।।।वृष्टिमन्तं पयोदान्ते पयोदमिव मारुतः।

Transliteration

sa kapir vārayāmāsa taṃ vyomni śara-varṣiṇam | vṛṣṭimantaṃ payodānte payodam iva mārutaḥ ||

Translation

ആകാശത്തിൽ അമ്പുമഴ പെയ്യിച്ച അവനെ കപി ഹനുമാൻ മധ്യാകാശത്തിൽ തന്നേ തടഞ്ഞു; മഴക്കാലാന്ത്യത്തിൽ മഴഭാരമുള്ള മേഘത്തെ കാറ്റ് തള്ളിനീക്കുന്നതുപോലെ.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• kapiḥ: the monkey/vanara
• kapiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• vārayāmāsa: prevented/warded off
• vārayāmāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛ (वृ धातु) + ṇic (causative)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; णिजन्त (causative)

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• vyomni: in the sky
• vyomni: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyoman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• śara-varṣiṇam: showering arrows
• śara-varṣiṇam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक) + varṣin (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (object-determinative: ‘arrows’ + ‘showering’); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying tam)

• vṛṣṭi-mantam: rain-bearing / raining
• vṛṣṭi-mantam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक) + matup (मन्त् प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive adjective)

• payoda-ante: at the end of the rainy season (lit. at cloud-end)
• payoda-ante: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Time-Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: payoda (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘cloud’ + ‘end’); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• payodam: a cloud
• payodam: Upamāna (उपमान/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: payoda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• iva: like/as
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• mārutaḥ: the wind
• mārutaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māruta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

The great monkey kept away the showering arrows like the wind prevents rain-cloud from showering rain drops at the end of monsoon.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Durdhara
• wind (māruta)
• cloud (payoda)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes measured protection: Hanumān’s strength functions as restraint—neutralizing harm rather than being driven by rage.

What is the narrative situation?

While Durdhara showers arrows from the skyward fight, Hanumān effectively wards off the barrage.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Skillful restraint (saṃyama) and competence: power guided by intelligence.