Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 4, Shloka 74

समुद्रतट-प्रयाणम् तथा वेलावन-निवेशः

March to the Seacoast and Encampment at the Shore

Devanagari script

वकुळान्स्तिलकांश्चूतानसोकान् सिन्धुवारकान् ।करवीरांश्च तिनिशान् भजन्ति स्म प्लवङ्गगमाः ।।।।

Transliteration

vakuḷāns tilakāṁś cūtān aśokān sindhuvārakān |

karavīrāṁś ca tiniśān bhajanti sma plavaṅgagamāḥ ||

Translation

Ang mga plavaṅgama—mga Vānara na tumatalon-talon—ay lumalapit at nagbibigay-galang sa mga punòng vakula, tilaka, mangga, aśoka, sindhuvāra, karavīra, at tiniśa.

Word by Word

• वकुळान्: vakula trees
• वकुळान्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वकुळ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः; द्वितीया-विभक्तिः; बहुवचनम् (masculine; accusative case; plural)

• तिलकान्: tilaka trees
• तिलकान्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः; द्वितीया-विभक्तिः; बहुवचनम् (masculine; accusative; plural)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम् / conjunction (copulative particle “and”)

• चूतान्: mango trees
• चूतान्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः; द्वितीया-विभक्तिः; बहुवचनम् (masculine; accusative; plural)

• अशोकान्: aśoka trees
• अशोकान्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः; द्वितीया-विभक्तिः; बहुवचनम् (masculine; accusative; plural)

• सिन्धुवारकान्: sindhuvāra trees (vitex/agnus-castus type)
• सिन्धुवारकान्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिन्धुवारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः; द्वितीया-विभक्तिः; बहुवचनम् (masculine; accusative; plural)

• करवीरान्: karavīra (oleander) plants/trees
• करवीरान्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करवीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः; द्वितीया-विभक्तिः; बहुवचनम् (masculine; accusative; plural)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम् / conjunction (copulative particle “and”)

• तिनिशान्: tiniśa trees
• तिनिशान्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिनिश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः; द्वितीया-विभक्तिः; बहुवचनम् (masculine; accusative; plural)

• भजन्ति: they resort to / adore / frequent
• भजन्ति: क्रिया (action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भज् (धातु) — भजँ सेवायाम्
• Form: लट्-लकारः; प्रथम-पुरुषः; बहुवचनम्; परस्मैपदम् (present indicative; 3rd person; plural; parasmaipada)

• स्म: indeed / (in the narrative past)
• स्म: क्रियाविशेषण (verbal particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्म (अव्यय)
• Form: स्म-शब्दः; भूतार्थ-निबन्धक-अव्ययम् / particle indicating past/narrative recollection (often with present tense)

• प्लवङ्गगमाः: the vanaras (monkey-warriors)
• प्लवङ्गगमाः: कर्ता (subject/agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्लवङ्गगम (प्रातिपदिक) [प्लवङ्ग + गम] (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः; प्रथमा-विभक्तिः; बहुवचनम् (masculine; nominative; plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्लवङ्गानां गमाः = those who go like/among leaping animals)

Context

The vanaras went adoring the Vakula, Tilaka, Mango, Asoka, Tinisa, Sinduvara and Karaveera trees.

Characters & Entities

• plavaṅgama (vanaras)
• vakula
• tilaka
• cūta (mango)
• aśoka
• karavīra
• tiniśa

FAQs

How does this verse relate to dharma in the Yuddhakanda context?

By showing the vanaras acting with restraint and reverence in a foreign landscape, it reflects dharma as disciplined conduct—moving with purpose while honoring the natural world rather than abusing it.

Where is satya (truth) reflected in this verse if it is only descriptive?

Satya here is the truthful, faithful narration of events and conduct: the epic records not only battles but also the vanaras’ orderly behavior, reinforcing that righteous action includes truthful, attentive living even amid war preparations.