Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 17, Shloka 22

सप्तदशः सर्गः — देवसंवादः तथा वानर-ऋक्ष-उत्पत्तिः

Divine Council and the Generation of Vanara Allies

Devanagari script

देवा महर्षिगन्धर्वास्तार्क्ष्या यक्षा यशस्विन:।नागा: किम्पुरुषाश्चैव सिद्धविद्याधरोरगा:।।1.17.20।। बहवो जनयामासुर्हृष्टास्तत्र सहस्रश:।वानरान्सुमहाकायान्सर्वान्वै वनचारिण:।।1.17.21।।अप्सरस्सु च मुख्यासु तथा विद्याधरीषु च।नागकन्यासु च तथा गन्धर्वीणां तनूषु च ।।1.17.22।।

Transliteration

śilāpraharaṇāḥ sarve sarve pādapayodhinaḥ |

nakhadaṁṣṭrāyudhāḥ sarve sarve sarvāstrakovidāḥ ||

Translation

Silang lahat ay bihasa sa paghampas ng bato; lahat ay nakikipaglaban gamit ang mga punò; lahat ay may mga kuko at pangil na sandata; at lahat ay dalubhasa sa bawat uri ng armas.

Word by Word

• bahavaḥ: many
• bahavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); विशेषण used substantively = 'many (beings)'

• janayāmāsuḥ: begot/produced
• janayāmāsuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jan (धातु) (णिच् causative)
• Form: Verb; लिट् (Perfect, परोक्षभूत), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद); 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन); causative sense 'caused to be born/begot'

• hṛṣṭāḥ: delighted
• hṛṣṭāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hṛṣṭa (कृदन्त; √hṛṣ धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); predicate adjective to the subject

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of place (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• sahasraśaḥ: in thousands
• sahasraśaḥ: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sahasraśas (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय) meaning 'by thousands/in thousands'

• vānarān: monkeys
• vānarān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन)

• su-mahā-kāyān: of very huge bodies
• su-mahā-kāyān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + kāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन); कर्मधारय: 'very-great-bodied' qualifying vānarān

• sarvān: all
• sarvān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन); विशेषण qualifying vānarān

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निपात)

• vana-cāriṇaḥ: forest-roamers
• vana-cāriṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक) + cārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/उपपद-तत्पुरुष sense 'forest-roaming'; used predicatively for the produced monkeys

Context

The devatas, rishis, gandharvas, garudas, yakshas, kimpurushas, siddhas, vidyadharas, uragas and many others were immensely pleased. Thousands of gigantic monkeys wandering in forests were procreated from principal apsarasas vidhyadaris, nagas, and gandharvas.

Characters & Entities

• Vānaras

FAQs

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

Competence and preparedness are part of dharma when used to defend the righteous; skill is not glorified for violence but for restoring moral order.

What is the narrative situation?

The text enumerates the Vānaras’ modes of combat—natural weapons and improvised arms—signaling their suitability for the coming struggle.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sāmarthya (capability) and kauśala (skill): effectiveness in action is presented as necessary for dharmic protection.