Shloka 4

महोत्पात-लक्षणानि

Omens before Khara’s Assault

Devanagari script

ततो ध्वजमुपागम्य हेमदण्डं समुच्छ्रितम्।समाक्रम्य महाकायस्तस्थौ गृध्रस्सुदारुणः।।।।

Transliteration

tato dhvajam upāgamya hemadaṇḍaṃ samucchritam | samākramya mahākāyas tasthau gṛdhraḥ sudāruṇaḥ ||

Translation

แล้วแร้งร่างมหึมาอันน่าสะพรึงกลัว บินเข้าหาธงที่ชูสูงมีคันธงทองคำ คว้าปลายยอดไว้แล้วเกาะอยู่ ณ ที่นั้น เป็นลางแห่งภัยพิบัติที่ใกล้จะมาถึง

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb)

• ध्वजम्: flag/standard
• ध्वजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उपागम्य: having approached
• उपागम्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उप-आ-गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund), ‘having approached’

• हेमदण्डम्: golden staff (of the flag)
• हेमदण्डम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेम (प्रातिपदिक) + दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (हेमस्य दण्डः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ध्वजस्य विशेषण/अवयवः

• समुच्छ्रितम्: raised/erected
• समुच्छ्रितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-उद्-श्रि (धातु) + त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ध्वजम्/हेमदण्डम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• समाक्रम्य: having mounted
• समाक्रम्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्-आ-क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund), ‘having mounted/occupied’

• महाकायः: huge-bodied
• महाकायः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + काय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महान् कायः यस्य), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तस्थौ: stood
• तस्थौ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• गृध्रः: vulture
• गृध्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृध्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सुदारुणः: very dreadful
• सुदारुणः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + दारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (अत्यन्तं दारुणः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; गृध्रस्य विशेषणम्

Context

The mighty, swift-footed army of valiant demons surrounded the princes (Rama and Lakshmana) all on a sudden like the planets around the Sun and the Moon.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē trayōviṅśassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the twentythird sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

FAQs

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

Dharma includes alertness to signs of disorder and harm. The epic uses omens to urge vigilance and timely right action rather than complacency.

What is the narrative situation?

As conflict approaches at Jana-sthāna, ominous signs appear; a vulture perches on the banner, foreshadowing violence.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and preparedness—reading the situation carefully and acting responsibly before danger fully manifests.