Shloka 79

युद्धकाण्डे एकोनषष्टितमः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

अभिवृष्टश्शरौघेणमेघेनेवमहाबलः ।ह्रस्वंकृत्वाततोरूपंध्वजाग्रेनिपपातह ।।6.59.79।।

Transliteration

abhivṛṣṭaḥ śaraughena megheneva mahābalaḥ | hrasvaṃ kṛtvā tato rūpaṃ dhvajāgre nipapāta ha ||6.59.79||

Translation

മേഘവൃഷ്ടിപോലെ അമ്പുകളുടെ പ്രളയത്തിൽ നനഞ്ഞിട്ടും മഹാബലനായ നീലൻ പിന്നെ തന്റെ രൂപം ചെറുതാക്കി റാവണന്റെ ധ്വജദണ്ഡത്തിന്റെ അഗ്രത്തിൽ ഇറങ്ങി ഇരുന്നു.

Word by Word

• अभिवृष्टः: showered upon
• अभिवृष्टः: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि + वृष् (धातु) → अभिवृष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative Singular; 'rained upon'

• शरौघेण: by a flood of arrows
• शरौघेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर + ओघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental Singular; तत्पुरुषः: शराणाम् ओघः (flood of arrows)

• मेघेन: by a cloud
• मेघेन: Upamana-karana (उपमान-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental Singular

• इव: like
• इव: Upama-marker (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, simile particle (उपमा-निपात)

• महाबलः: the mighty one
• महाबलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular; subject (one of great strength)

• ह्रस्वम्: small/short
• ह्रस्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ह्रस्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative Singular; object-complement with kṛtvā

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb

• रूपम्: form
• रूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative Singular; object of kṛtvā (made the form small)

• ध्वजाग्रे: on the flagstaff tip
• ध्वजाग्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वज + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative Singular; तत्पुरुषः: ध्वजस्य अग्रे (on the tip/top of the banner/flagstaff)

• निपपात: fell/landed
• निपपात: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + पत् (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular; Parasmaipada

• ह: indeed
• ह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya particle (निपात) used in narration/emphasis

Context

When Neela was covered by Ravana's arrows, it was just as clouds cover mountain peaks. Neela reduced his size and landed on top of Ravana's bow.

Characters & Entities

• Nīla
• Rāvaṇa
• arrows (śara)
• dhvaja (standard/banner)
• bow (implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma here highlights steadiness under adversity: even when overwhelmed, one should keep clarity and act skillfully rather than panic.

What is the narrative situation?

Nīla is struck by an arrow-storm from Rāvaṇa, but he uses agility and a strategic transformation to reach a position directly atop Rāvaṇa’s weapon.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Nīla’s presence of mind and fearlessness—he turns a disadvantage (being covered by arrows) into a tactical advantage.