All 50 Uses of

subdue

in

The Ramayana

By nature wise, his teacher's skill Has trained him to subdue his will.†
Book 1 *

subdue = control or put down by force or intimidation

The priest who well his duty knew, And every sense could well subdue, From out the bony chambers freed And boiled the marrow of the steed.†
Book 1

Mad elephants that wander through The forest wilds, could they subdue, And with their furious shout could scare Dead upon earth the birds of air.†
Book 1

Of Jayá, glorious as the morn, First fifty noble sons were born, Boundless in size yet viewless too, They came the demons to subdue.†
Book 1

Or frenzy's stroke my soul subdue?†
Book 2

which thy soul subdues, Or Ráma dwelling with his spouse— My all is he—neath forest boughs?†
Book 2

subdues = controls, prevents, or makes less intense

Such glorious gifts are all thine own, And birth and death to thee are known, That ill can ne'er thy soul depress With all-subduing bitterness.†
Book 2

subduing = controlling, preventing, or making less intense

Such virtues, Prince, the good may gain Who empire o'er each sense retain; And well canst thou, with loving view Regarding all, each sense subdue.†
Book 3

subdue = control or put down by force or intimidation

Now if within thy breast may be Pity for them and love for me, If thou, O rover of the night, Have valour and with him can fight, Subdue the giants' cruel foe Who dwells where Da?†
Book 3

But he who every sense subdues And each event observant views, Rewards the good and keeps from wrong, Shall reign secure and flourish long.†
Book 3

subdues = controls, prevents, or makes less intense

Now if my power he thus defies, This giant, like Vátápi dies, Daring to scorn a man like me, A self subduing devotee.†
Book 3

subduing = controlling, preventing, or making less intense

spoke in seemly speech: "Up, brother dear, thy grief subdue, With heart and soul thy search renew.†
Book 3

subdue = control or put down by force or intimidation

This better path, dear friend, pursue, And let not grief thy soul subdue.†
Book 4

subdue,—'tis friendship's claim,— My foe who bears a brother's name.†
Book 4

Kind, liberal, patient, true, and just Was he in whom they place their trust, And now he seeks the land of those Who for the right subdue their foes.†
Book 4

Thine was the soul that loved to dare: To serve the Gods was still thy care; And ne'er may sorrow's sting subdue A heart so resolute and true.†
Book 4

Arise, my brother, and subdue The demon and his wicked crew.†
Book 4

Think not the hero needs thy power To save him in the desperate hour: He with his arrows could subdue The Gods and all the demon crew, And only waits that he may see Redeemed the promise made by thee.†
Book 4

He ceased: and Hanumán of all The Vánars in the council hall In wisdom first, and rank, expressed The thoughts that filled his prudent breast: "No marvel thou rememberest yet The service thou shouldst ne'er forget, How the brave prince of Raghu's seed Thy days from fear and peril freed; And Báli for thy sake o'erthrew, Whom Indra's self might scarce subdue.†
Book 4

So by no thought of fear controlled My speech, O King, is free and bold, For Ráma, if his anger glow, Can, with the terrors of his bow This earth with all the Gods subdue, Gandharvas,(635) and the demon crew.†
Book 4

Or go thyself, his rage subdue, And with soft words his favour woo.†
Book 4

Yet dauntless hearts will never fail To win success though foes assail, And I this sorrow will subdue And search the palace through and through, Exploring with my cautious tread Each spot as yet unvisited.†
Book 5

He ceased: and King Sugríva tried To calm his grief, and thus replied: "'Be to thy nobler nature true, Nor let despair thy soul subdue.†
Book 6

These, these and many a Rákshas more, Each master of the arms he bore, Who every foe in fight o'erthrew, The victors none could e'er subdue, Have perished by the might of one, The vengeful arm of Raghu's son.†
Book 6

From old Ikshváku's(15) line he came, Known to the world by Ráma's name: With soul subdued, a chief of might, In Scripture versed, in glory bright, His steps in virtue's paths are bent, Obedient, pure, and eloquent.†
Book 1

Peer of the saints, for virtues famed, For foes subdued and passions tamed: A rival in his wealth untold Of Indra and the Lord of Gold.†
Book 1

Roots and wild fruit were others' food; All rage was checked, each sense subdued, There Bálakhilyas(220) went and came, Now breathed the prayer, now fed the flame: These, and ascetic bands beside, The sweet retirement beautified.†
Book 1

And Visvámitra's mighty force, Car, elephant, and foot, and horse, Fell in a moment's time, subdued By that tremendous multitude.†
Book 1

ha at his feet subdued.†
Book 1

There, fruit and roots his only food, He practised penance, sense-subdued, And in that solitary spot Four virtuous sons the king begot: Havishyand, from the offering named, And Madhushyand, for sweetness famed, Mahárath, chariot-borne in fight, And Dri?†
Book 1

Thus pondering, he with sense subdued, With sternest zeal his vows renewed.†
Book 1

He saw her in that lone retreat, Most beautiful from head to feet, And by Kandarpa's(243) might subdued He thus addressed her as he viewed: "Welcome, sweet nymph!†
Book 1

When thus the archer king was bound, With treacherous arts and oaths enwound, She to her bounteous lord subdued By blinding love, her speech renewed: "Remember, King, that long-past day Of Gods' and demons' battle fray.†
Book 2

(276) The queen, triumphant in the power Won by her beauty's fatal dower, Still terrible and unsubdued, Her dire demand again renewed: "Great Monarch, 'twas thy boast till now To love the truth and keep the vow; Then wherefore would thy lips refuse The promised boon 'tis mine to choose?†
Book 2

unsubdued = not controlled, prevented, or made less intense

standard prefix: The prefix "un-" in unsubdued means not and reverses the meaning of subdued. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.

Thus Kasyap's great ascetic son A seat among the Immortals won: In his own home, subdued, he stayed, And honour to his mother paid.†
Book 2

The might of Fate subdued by me This hour the citizens shall see, Who saw its intervention stay Thy consecrating rites to-day.†
Book 2

But when that dust no more he viewed, Fainting he fell by grief subdued.†
Book 2

Closed were the temples: countless feet No longer trod the royal street, And thinking of his son he viewed Men weak and worn and woe-subdued.†
Book 2

Then fear and numbing grief subdued The senses of the multitude.†
Book 2

There, clad in coats of bark and hide,— Their food by roots and fruit supplied,— Dwelt many an old and reverend sire Bright as the sun or Lord of Fire, All with each worldly sense subdued, A pure and saintly multitude.†
Book 3

Agastya once, the worlds who viewed With love, a Deathlike fiend subdued, And armed with mighty power, obtained By holy works, this grove ordained To be a refuge and defence From all oppressors' violence.†
Book 3

Since that most holy saint has made His dwelling in this lovely shade, Checked by his might the giant brood Have dwelt in peace with souls subdued.†
Book 3

Its fury spent and burnt away, Harmless upon the ground it lay Like a great snake in furious mood By herbs of numbing power subdued.†
Book 3

s might subdued: "Dreams, omens, auguries foreshow Our coming lot of weal and woe: But thou, my Ráma, couldst not see The grievous blow which falls on thee.†
Book 3

On silvan Gods who love the dell A sudden fear and trembling fell, As in the deepest woe they viewed The lady by the fiend subdued.†
Book 3

Mad with the rage her answer woke He called the fiendish train and spoke: "Take her, ye Rákshas dames, who fright With hideous form and mien the sight, Who make the flesh of men your food,— And let her pride be soon subdued."†
Book 3

u, Bali's might subdued, His empire of the earth renewed.†
Book 3

With piteous voice, by woe subdued, Thus Raghu's son his speech renewed: "Thy steps, my brother, quickly turn To bright Godávarí and learn If Sítá to the stream have hied To cull the lilies on its side."†
Book 3

When toil my aged strength subdued, His sword my weary pinions hewed.†
Book 3

By Indra's curse, subdued in fight, I wear this form which scares the sight.†
Book 3

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Best Example Sentences
From Other Sources
Grouped by 2 Meanings

Definitions:

(1) (subdue as a verb as in: subdued the opposition)
to control, prevent, or make less intense -- sometimes through force
The exact meaning of subdue depends upon its context. For example:
- "subdued a nation" -- defeated militarily and brought under control
- "subdued the fever" -- made it less intense or defeated it
- "subdued her enthusiasm" -- made it less intense
- "subdued her fears" -- made them less intense or overcame them
- "subdued my emotions" -- kept them under control
- "subdued the crowd" -- quieted or controlled it
(2) (subdued adjective as in: subdued colors or mood)
not intense, or less active
The exact meaning of subdued depends upon its context. For example:
- "subdued colors" -- not too bright (soft, not intense)
- "a subdued voice" -- quiet; perhaps whispered
- "a subdued mood" -- quiet and less active; perhaps a bit sad or thoughtful
- "subdued summer activity" -- less active or busy than normal
(3) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)

Page Numbers by Book Edition

subdue in The Ramayana

subdue

in

The Ramayana