Shloka 5

द्वादशः सर्गः — Rama’s Proof of Power, the First Duel, and the Identification Mark

Kishkindha Kanda, Sarga 12

Devanagari script

तान्दृष्ट्वा सप्त निर्भिन्नान्सालान्वानरपुङ्गवः।रामस्य शरवेगेन विस्मयं परमं गतः4.12.5।।

Transliteration

tān dṛṣṭvā sapta nirbhinnān sālān vānarapuṅgavaḥ |

rāmasya śaravegena vismayaṃ paramaṃ gataḥ ||

Translation

رام کے تیر کی رفتار سے چھدے ہوئے اُن سات سال درختوں کو دیکھ کر، وانروں کا سردار انتہائی حیرت میں ڈوب گیا۔

Word by Word

• tān: those
• tān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (used adjectivally)

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (दृश्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• sapta: seven
• sapta: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sapta (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्या; 'सप्त (सालान्)'

• nirbhinnān: split/pierced through
• nirbhinnān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir-√bhid (भिद्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle)

• sālān: sāla trees
• sālān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन

• vānara-puṅgavaḥ: chief of monkeys
• vānara-puṅgavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक) + puṅgava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (वानराणां पुंगवः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• rāmasya: of Rāma
• rāmasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• śara-vegena: by the speed of the arrow
• śara-vegena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक) + vega (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (शरस्य वेगः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन

• vismayam: astonishment
• vismayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vismaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/भाव), एकवचन

• paramam: supreme/great
• paramam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying vismayam)

• gataḥ: attained/became
• gataḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (गम्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'गतः' = 'became/attained'

Context

The chief of the monkeys was struck with wonder seeing Rama's arrow piercing through the seven sala trees so swiftly.

Characters & Entities

• Sugriva (implied as vānarapuṅgava)
• Rama
• sāla trees
• arrow

FAQs

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

Righteous alliances rest on trust grounded in truth and demonstrated capability; the proof dispels doubt so dharmic action can proceed.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva witnesses Rāma’s demonstration of strength—his arrow piercing seven trees—confirming Rāma can defeat Vāli.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sugrīva’s openness to conviction—he moves from fear to confidence through witnessed truth.