Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 4, Shloka 9

समुद्रतट-प्रयाणम् तथा वेलावन-निवेशः

March to the Seacoast and Encampment at the Shore

Devanagari script

अग्रे यातु बलस्यास्य नीलो मार्गमवेक्षितुम् ।वृतश्शतसहस्रेण वानराणां तरस्विनाम् ।।।।

Transliteration

agre yātu balasyāsya nīlo mārgam avekṣitum |

vṛtaḥ śatasahasreṇa vānarāṇāṃ tarasvinām ||6.4.9||

Translation

罗摩说道：“让尼罗（Nīla）走在这支军队前方，察看道路；并由十万迅捷勇猛的猿将护送。”

Word by Word

• agre: in front
• agre: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/place)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: agra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-निभ (locative used adverbially): नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग ‘agra’; सप्तमी-एकवचन (Locative/7th) अर्थे—‘in front’

• yātu: let (him) go
• yātu: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

• balasya: of the army
• balasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• asya: of this
• asya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• nīlaḥ: Nīla
• nīlaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nīla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम

• mārgam: the path
• mārgam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• avekṣitum: to inspect
• avekṣitum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), ‘to look/examine’; उपसर्ग ‘ava-’

• vṛtaḥ: surrounded
• vṛtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛ (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle) ‘covered/surrounded’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नीलस्य विशेषणम्

• śata-sahasreṇa: with a hundred thousand
• śata-sahasreṇa: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक) + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—द्वन्द्व (copulative) संख्या-समाहारार्थे; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; अर्थे—‘with a hundred thousand’

• vānarāṇām: of Vānaras
• vānarāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन

• tarasvinām: of the swift/valiant
• tarasvinām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tarasvin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन; वानराणां विशेषणम्

Context

"Let Nila go leading in front with his courageous and hundred thousand army looking at the way (said Rama)".

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Nīla
• vānarāḥ (Vānara army)
• mārga (route/path)

FAQs

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

Dharma as responsible leadership: Rāma assigns a capable leader to scout the path, prioritizing the safety and orderly movement of the host—duty expressed through prudent planning.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma organizes the march formation, directing Nīla to proceed in front with a large escort to examine and secure the route for the army.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s foresight and governance (nīti), and Nīla’s reliability and courage as a trusted commander.