Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 66, Shloka 16

कुम्भकर्णप्रस्थानम् तथा अङ्गदप्रेरणा

Kumbhakarna’s sortie and Angada’s rallying of the Vanaras

Devanagari script

तेस्थलानितदानिम्नंविवर्णमानाभयात् ।ऋक्षावृक्षान् समारूढाःकेचित्पर्वतमाश्रिताः ।।।।

Transliteration

te sthalāni tadā nimnaṃ vivarṇavadanā bhayāt | ṛkṣā vṛkṣān samārūḍhāḥ kecit parvatam āśritāḥ ||

Translation

当时他们因恐惧而面色惨白，急奔向低洼之地；有些熊攀上树木，有些投奔山岳为庇护。

Word by Word

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad- (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga / Prathamā / Bahuvacana

• sthalāni: places, grounds
• sthalāni: Karma (कर्म) (object of implied verb 'reached/entered')
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthala- (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग / Dvitīyā / Bahuvacana

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Kāla-avyaya (temporal adverb)

• nimnam: low-lying (ground)
• nimnam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nimna- (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग / Dvitīyā / Ekavacana; used adjectivally (agreeing with an implied neuter object/region)

• vivarṇamānāḥ: turning pale
• vivarṇamānāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of te
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-√varṇ (धातु) + śānac (कृत्)
• Form: Śānac-present middle participle; Puṃliṅga / Prathamā / Bahuvacana; 'becoming pale/discoloured'

• bhayāt: from fear
• bhayāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaya- (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग / Pañcamī (Abl, 5) / Ekavacana

• ṛkṣāvṛkṣān: trees (bear-trees/trees for bears)
• ṛkṣāvṛkṣān: Karma (कर्म) of samārūḍhāḥ
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛkṣa- + vṛkṣa- (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga / Dvitīyā / Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa (descriptive): ṛkṣāṇāṃ vṛkṣān / or 'bear-like trees' per context; here 'trees' as objects climbed

• samārūḍhāḥ: having climbed up
• samārūḍhāḥ: Kriyā-sāmānādhikaraṇya
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ā-√ruh (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: Kta-participle; Puṃliṅga / Prathamā / Bahuvacana

• kecit: some
• kecit: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim-cit (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Puṃliṅga / Prathamā / Bahuvacana

• parvatam: a mountain
• parvatam: Karma (कर्म) of āśritāḥ
• Type: Noun
• Root: parvata- (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga / Dvitīyā / Ekavacana

• āśritāḥ: having taken refuge (in)
• āśritāḥ: Kriyā-sāmānādhikaraṇya
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-√śri (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: Kta-participle; Puṃliṅga / Prathamā / Bahuvacana

Context

Out of fear the vanaras rushed to plains with pale countenance, some climbed up mountains and bears climbed up trees.

Characters & Entities

• Vānara troops
• Ṛkṣa (bears—Jāmbavān’s bear-host implied as a group)
• Trees
• Mountains

FAQs

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

The verse illustrates भय (fear) as a destabilizing force; dharma-based leadership must restore steadiness and truthfulness of purpose amid panic.

What is the narrative situation?

The allied troops scatter for safety—some to low ground, some climbing trees, others taking shelter in mountains—showing battlefield disarray.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Caution/self-preservation is shown rather than virtue; it sets up the need for renewed courage and disciplined return to righteous action.