Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 17, Shloka 27
सप्तदशः सर्गः — देवसंवादः तथा वानर-ऋक्ष-उत्पत्तिः
Divine Council and the Generation of Vanara Allies
गृह्णीयुरपि मातङ्गान्मत्तान्प्रव्रजतो वने।नर्दमानाश्च नादेन पातयेयुर्विहङ्गमान्।।।।
gṛhṇīyur api mātaṅgān mattān pravrajato vane |
nardamānāś ca nādena pātayeyur vihaṅgamān ||
Mereka bahkan mampu menangkap gajah jantan yang sedang musth, berkeliaran di hutan; dan dengan auman mereka yang menggelegar, mereka dapat menjatuhkan burung yang sedang terbang.
They could shake mountains and uproot deep-rooted trees. With their speed they could cause disturbance to Samudra, the lord of the rivers.
FAQs
The epic emphasizes that dharma’s protection may require overwhelming capability; however, such force is meaningful only when subordinated to righteous leadership and purpose.
The narrator concludes this sequence by illustrating the Vānaras’ dominance over even powerful animals and the natural world, reinforcing their role as decisive allies.
Prabhāva (commanding presence) and bala (strength): an awe-inspiring power that, in the Ramayana’s moral universe, is meant to be harnessed for justice.