Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 97, Shloka 12

सप्तनवतितमः सर्गः (Yuddha Kāṇḍa 97): Sugrīva’s Onslaught and the Fall of Virūpākṣa

Devanagari script

कपिराजविमुक्तैस्तैश्शैलवर्षैस्तुराक्षसाः ।विकीर्णशिरसःपेतुर्निकृत्ताइवपर्वताः ।।।।

Transliteration

kapirājavimuktaiḥ taiḥ śailavarṣais tu rākṣasāḥ | vikīrṇaśirasaḥ petur nikṛttā iva parvatāḥ ||6.97.12||

Translation

Tinamaan ng mga pag-ulan ng bato na pinakawalan ng hari ng mga unggoy, ang mga rakshasa ay bumagsak na may basag na mga ulo, tulad ng mga bundok na tinibag.

Word by Word

• कपिराजविमुक्तैः: by those released by the monkey-king
• कपिराजविमुक्तैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कपिराज + विमुक्त (प्रातिपदिक; √मुच् वि- क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; Instrumental, Plural; 'released by the monkey-king'

• तैः: by those
• तैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Instrumental, Plural (pronoun)

• शैलवर्षैः: by showers of rocks
• शैलवर्षैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैल + वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• तु: indeed; but
• तु: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोध-निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• राक्षसाः: Rakshasas
• राक्षसाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• विकीर्णशिरसः: with shattered heads
• विकीर्णशिरसः: Karta-visheshana (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विकीर्ण + शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Plural; बहुव्रीहि: 'whose heads were scattered'

• पेतुः: fell
• पेतुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद; Perfect, 3rd person, Plural

• निकृत्ताः: cut down; hewn
• निकृत्ताः: Karta-visheshana (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निकृत्त (प्रातिपदिक; √कृत्/कृन्त् नि- क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Plural; PPP used adjectivally

• इव: like
• इव: Upama (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमा-वाचक (comparative particle)

• पर्वताः: mountains
• पर्वताः: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Context

Hit by the rocks rained by the Vanara king, the Rakshasas with heads broken and body mutilated had fallen like mountains.

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva (Kapirāja)
• rākṣasas
• mountains (parvata)

FAQs

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

The verse reinforces the narrative claim that adharma’s forces are vulnerable when confronted by united, duty-bound allies acting for a righteous end.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva’s rock-barrage causes severe rākṣasa casualties, described through a vivid simile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Unstoppable martial energy (utsāha) in service of the alliance with Rāma.