Shloka 2

शरबन्धनविलापः

The Lament under the Net of Arrows

Devanagari script

घोरेणशरबन्धेनबद्धौदशरथात्मजौ ।निःश्वसन्तौयथानागौशयानौरुधिरोक्षितौ ।।6.49.1।।सर्वेतेवानरश्रेष्ठास्ससुग्रीवामहाबलाः ।परिवार्यमहात्मानौतस्थुश्शोकपरिप्लुताः ।।6.49.2।।

Transliteration

ghoreṇa śarabandhena baddhau daśarathātmajau |

niḥśvasantau yathā nāgau śayānau rudhirokṣitau || 6.49.1 ||

sarve te vānaraśreṣṭhāḥ sa-sugrīvā mahābalāḥ |

parivārya mahātmānau tasthuḥ śokapariplutāḥ || 6.49.2 ||

Translation

ദശരഥാത്മജരായ ശ്രീരാമനും ലക്ഷ്മണനും ഭീകരമായ ശരബന്ധംകൊണ്ട് ബന്ധിക്കപ്പെട്ട് ഭൂമിയിൽ കിടന്നു; മഹാനാഗങ്ങളെപ്പോലെ നിശ്വാസം വിട്ടുകൊണ്ട് രക്തത്തിൽ നനഞ്ഞിരുന്നു. അവരുടെ ചുറ്റും സുഗ്രീവനോടുകൂടി എല്ലാ ശ്രേഷ്ഠ മഹാബല വാനരനേതാക്കളും ആ മഹാത്മ സഹോദരന്മാരെ വളഞ്ഞുനിന്നു, ശോകത്തിൽ മുങ്ങിയവരായി.

Word by Word

sarveall

tethey

vānara-śreṣṭhāḥthe best of the Vanaras

sa-sugrīvāḥtogether with Sugriva

mahā-balāḥvery powerful

parivāryahaving surrounded

mahātmānauthe two great souls

tasthuḥstood

śoka-pariplutāḥoverwhelmed with grief

Context

Sugriva, the very powerful one and all the best of Vanaras stood immersed in sorrow surrounding the great sons of Dasaratha, who were lying on the ground bound by a network of arrows like serpents, sighing, bodies covered with blood.

Characters & Entities

Rāma

Lakṣmaṇa

Daśaratha

Sugrīva

Vānara leaders

FAQs

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

Dharma here is reflected in loyal solidarity during calamity: the Vānara allies do not abandon Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa when they fall, but stand by them in shared suffering—an ethic of steadfast support to the righteous.

What is the narrative situation?

In the battle, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa have been struck and immobilized by an enemy’s arrow-net; they lie wounded while Sugrīva and the Vānara chiefs gather around them in grief.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Allyship and fidelity (sakhya-niṣṭhā): Sugrīva and the Vānaras demonstrate steadfast devotion and concern for their leader and his brother.