Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 17, Shloka 35

सप्तदशः सर्गः — देवसंवादः तथा वानर-ऋक्ष-उत्पत्तिः

Divine Council and the Generation of Vanara Allies

Devanagari script

तैर्मेघबृन्दाचलकूटकल्पै:महाबलैर्वानरयूथपालै:।बभूव भूर्भीमशरीररूपैस्समावृता रामसहायहेतो:।।।।

Transliteration

tair meghabṛndācalakūṭakalpair mahābalair vānarayūthapālaiḥ | babhūva bhūr bhīmaśarīrarūpaiḥ samāvṛtā rāmasahāyahētoḥ ||

Translation

Vì mục đích trợ giúp Rāma, mặt đất được phủ kín bởi các thủ lĩnh hùng mạnh của bầy quân khỉ—lớn như khối mây, như đỉnh núi, thân hình và dung mạo đều đáng sợ.

Word by Word

• तैः: by them
• तैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• मेघबृन्दाचलकूटकल्पैः: resembling masses of clouds and mountain peaks
• मेघबृन्दाचलकूटकल्पैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेघ-बृन्द-अचल-कूट-कल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (मेघबृन्द-अचल-कूट-कल्पः = like cloud-masses and mountain-peaks)

• महाबलैः: very strong
• महाबलैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा-बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (महद् बलम् येषाम्)

• वानरयूथपालैः: by the commanders of monkey troops
• वानरयूथपालैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर-यूथपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वानराणां यूथपालाः)

• बभूव: became / was
• बभूव: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; धातु: √भू (to be/become)

• भूः: the earth
• भूः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भीमशरीररूपैः: with fearsome bodies and forms
• भीमशरीररूपैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीम-शरीर-रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (भीमं शरीरं रूपं च येषाम्/भीमशरीररूपाः)

• समावृता: covered / enveloped
• समावृता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-√वृ (धातु) / समावृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे (covered)

• रामसहायहेतोः: for the purpose of helping Rama
• रामसहायहेतोः: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम-सहाय-हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अर्थे: हेतु (purpose) इति; समासः: रामस्य सहायः (genitive relation) + हेतु; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

Context

In order to assist Rama, this earth was filled with commanders of those who led the monkey forces resembling masses of clouds and mountains. They loan endowed with immense strength and fearful forms and countenances.ইত্যার্ষে শ্রীমদ্রামাযণে বাল্মীকীয আদিকাব্যে বালকাণ্ডে সপ্তদশস্সর্গ:৷৷Thus ends the seventeenth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• earth (bhūḥ)

FAQs

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

Sevā as dharma: immense strength is presented as meaningful when dedicated to assisting the righteous (helping Rāma), not for self-assertion.

What is the narrative situation?

The sarga culminates by stating the world is now filled with powerful vānaras explicitly destined to become Rāma’s allies.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Devoted support: the ideal use of capability is to stand as a dependable aid to dharma embodied in Rāma.