Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 4, Shloka 12

समुद्रतट-प्रयाणम् तथा वेलावन-निवेशः

March to the Seacoast and Encampment at the Shore

Devanagari script

निम्नेषु वनदुर्गेषु वनेषु च वनौकसः ।अभिप्लुत्याभिपश्येयुः परेषां निहितं बलम् ।।।।

Transliteration

nimneṣu vanadurgeṣu vaneṣu ca vanaukasaḥ |

abhiplutyābhipaśyeyuḥ pareṣāṃ nihitaṃ balam ||

Translation

“诸位林中居者，当在低洼之处、难以进入的林中险寨以及诸林深处搜寻；并当跃起远望，越过寻常所见，以察敌军潜藏之势。”

Word by Word

• nimneṣu: in low-lying (places)
• nimneṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/place)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nimna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन; देशविशेषणम्

• vana-durgeṣu: in forest-fastnesses / difficult forest tracts
• vana-durgeṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/place)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक) + durga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—तत्पुरुष: vanasya durgāṇi; नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• vaneṣu: in forests
• vaneṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/place)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• vanaukasaḥ: forest-dwellers (Vānaras)
• vanaukasaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana-okas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—तत्पुरुष: vane okas yasya/yeṣām (forest-dwellers); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन

• abhiplutya: having leapt
• abhiplutya: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/preceding action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: abhi-√plu (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund): having leapt/sprung upon

• abhipaśyeyuḥ: should look for / observe
• abhipaśyeyuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√dṛś (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन, परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग ‘abhi-’

• pareṣām: of the enemies/others
• pareṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन

• nihitam: hidden, placed
• nihitam: Karma (कर्म/object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ni-√dhā (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बलस्य विशेषणम्

• balam: force, army
• balam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

Context

"O Vanaras! You should even look for (the rakshasas) in the low lying lands, in inaccessible water sources, in forests and also beyond sight leaping up to the sky".

Characters & Entities

• Vanaras (vanaukasaḥ)

FAQs

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

Dharma in warfare includes protection of one’s people through vigilance and due diligence—seeking truth about hidden threats before engaging, rather than acting carelessly.

What is the narrative situation?

Commanders instruct the vanaras to conduct thorough reconnaissance, searching difficult terrain and even scanning beyond ordinary sight for concealed enemy troops.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Alertness and disciplined obedience—systematic searching and coordinated action in service of the righteous campaign.