Shloka 1

युद्धकाण्डे एकोनषष्टितमः सर्गः

Rāvaṇa’s Assault on Nīla and Lakṣmaṇa; Hanumān Bears Rāma

Devanagari script

तस्मिन्हतेराक्षससैन्यपालेप्लवङ्गमानामृषभेणयुद्धे ।भीमयुधंसागरतुल्यवेगंविदुद्रुवेराक्षसराजसैन्यम् ।।6.59.1।।

Transliteration

tasmin hate rākṣasa-sainya-pāle plavaṅgamānām ṛṣabheṇa yuddhe | bhīmāyudhaṃ sāgara-tulya-vegaṃ vidudruve rākṣasa-rāja-sainyam ||

Translation

യുദ്ധത്തിൽ വാനരശ്രേഷ്ഠൻ രാക്ഷസസൈന്യപാലനെ വധിച്ചപ്പോൾ, ഭീകരായുധധാരികളായി സമുദ്രതുല്യ വേഗത്തിൽ പാഞ്ഞുവന്ന രാക്ഷസരാജന്റെ സൈന്യം ചിതറി ഓടിപ്പോയി.

Word by Word

• tasmin: in that (situation)/when
• tasmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (7th locative), एकवचन; ‘in/when that’

• hate: when (he) was slain
• hate: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: han (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; agrees with rākṣasa-sainya-pāle

• rākṣasa-sainya-pāle: in the slain commander of the rākṣasa army
• rākṣasa-sainya-pāle: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa + sainya + pāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘commander (pāla) of the rākṣasa-army’

• plavaṅgamānām: of the monkeys (Vānaras)
• plavaṅgamānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: plavaṅgama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th genitive), बहुवचन

• ṛṣabheṇa: by the foremost (bull-like leader)
• ṛṣabheṇa: Kartr̥ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; here ‘by the bull/foremost’ (i.e., Nīla)

• yuddhe: in battle
• yuddhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• bhīma-yudham: dreadful in combat
• bhīma-yudham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhīma + yudha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘dreadful in weapons/fighting’

• sāgara-tulya-vegam: with ocean-like speed
• sāgara-tulya-vegam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sāgara + tulya + vega (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘having speed like the ocean (in fury)’

• vidudruve: ran away/fled
• vidudruve: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-dru (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; collective subject

• rākṣasa-rāja-sainyam: the rākṣasa king’s army
• rākṣasa-rāja-sainyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa + rāja + sainya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; here as कर्ता (subject) with vidudruve; तत्पुरुष: ‘army of the rākṣasa-king’

Context

The Vanaras burning with desire to fight, for their part went with huge trees in bloom, huge and long rocks.

FAQs

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

When adharma loses its pillar, fear replaces arrogance; Dharma is portrayed as ultimately stabilizing, while unrighteous force becomes self-defeating.

What is the narrative situation?

The text transitions into the next sarga: with Prahastha dead, Rāvaṇa’s troops panic and flee the battlefield.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Nīla’s decisive effectiveness in battle and the Vanara side’s momentum in a dharmic campaign.