Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 27, Shloka 32

वानर-ऋक्ष-सेना-प्रशंसा

Cataloguing the Vanara and Bear Forces

Devanagari script

एतेऽसितमुखाघोरागोलाङ्गूलामहाबलाः ।शतंशतहस्राणिदृष्ट्वावैसेतुबन्धनम् ।।।।गोलाङ्गूलंमहावेगंगवाक्षंनामयूधपम् ।परिवार्याभिवर्तन्तेलङ्कांमर्दितुमोजसा ।।।।

Transliteration

ete 'sitamukhā ghorā golāṅgūlā mahābalāḥ |

śataṃ śatasahasrāṇi dṛṣṭvā vai setubandhanam || 6.27.32 ||

golāṅgūlaṃ mahāvegaṃ gavākṣaṃ nāma yūdhapam |

parivāryābhivartante laṅkāṃ marditum ojasā || 6.27.33 ||

Translation

Ang mga ito’y kakila-kilabot, maitim ang mukha, at may buntot na gaya ng baka—ang mga Golāṅgūla—makapangyarihan, daan-daang libo. Nang makita ang tulay na naitayo, pinalilibutan nila ang mabilis na pinunong-yunit na nagngangalang Gavākṣa, na isa ring Golāṅgūla, at sumusulong nang buong lakas upang durugin ang Laṅkā.

Word by Word

• एते: these
• एते: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; Demonstrative pronoun, Nom. pl.

• असितमुखाः: black-faced
• असितमुखाः: विशेषण (Qualifier of एते)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असित + मुख (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (असितं मुखं येषाम्); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; adjective of एते

• घोराः: terrible, fearsome
• घोराः: विशेषण (Qualifier of एते)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; adjective

• गोलाङ्गूलाः: having cow-like tails (golāṅgūla monkeys)
• गोलाङ्गूलाः: विशेषण (Qualifier of एते)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गो + लाङ्गूल (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (गोवत् लाङ्गूलं येषाम्); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• महाबलाः: very strong
• महाबलाः: विशेषण (Qualifier of एते)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + बल (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महच्च तत् बलम्); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• शतम्: a hundred
• शतम्: विशेष्य/परिमाण (Quantifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; numeral used in counting

• शतहस्राणि: hundreds of thousands
• शतहस्राणि: विशेष्य/परिमाण (Quantifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (शतानि सहस्राणि); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; numeral compound

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: पूर्वकाल (Absolutive; having seen)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √दृश् (धातु) → दृष्ट्वा (कृदन्त, त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभाव (gerund); prior action

• वै: indeed
• वै: निपात (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• सेतुबन्धनम्: the building of the bridge
• सेतुबन्धनम्: कर्म (Object of दृष्ट्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेतु + बन्धन (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सेतोः बन्धनम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Context

"You see him (Pramathi) who resembles a cloud risen up by the wind you may also see the reddish brown dust particles lifted up by excessive whirling of the wind all over and also the furious Vanara army moving swiftly."

Characters & Entities

• Gavākṣa
• Laṅkā

FAQs

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

The verse reflects dharma as collective commitment to a just mission: coordinated action (surrounding their leader, advancing together) and steadfast resolve after completing righteous labor (the bridge).

What is the narrative situation?

After the bridge to Laṅkā is completed, massive divisions of Vanaras rally around their commander Gavākṣa and move to assault Laṅkā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Unity and determination—organized strength under a named leader directed toward the campaign’s goal.