Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 17

Śrī Rāmacandra-avatāra — Vow, Exile, Laṅkā-vijaya, and Rāma-rājya

Concise Bhāgavata Account

Devanagari script

सा वानरेन्द्रबलरुद्धविहारकोष्ठ- श्रीद्वारगोपुरसदोवलभीविटङ्का । निर्भज्यमानधिषणध्वजहेमकुम्भ- श‍ृङ्गाटका गजकुलैर्ह्रदिनीव घूर्णा ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

sā vānarendra-bala-ruddha-vihāra-koṣṭha- śrī-dvāra-gopura-sado-valabhī-viṭaṅkā nirbhajyamāna-dhiṣaṇa-dhvaja-hema-kumbha- śṛṅgāṭakā gaja-kulair hradinīva ghūrṇā

Translation

After entering Laṅkā, the monkey soldiers, led by chiefs like Sugrīva, Nīla and Hanumān, occupied all the sporting houses, granaries, treasuries, palace doorways, city gates, assembly houses, palace frontages and even the resting houses of the pigeons. When the city’s crossroads, platforms, flags and golden waterpots on its domes were all destroyed, the entire city of Laṅkā appeared like a river disturbed by a herd of elephants.

Synonyms

• सा: she (Laṅkā)
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सर्वनाम

• वानरेन्द्र-बल-रुद्ध-विहार-कोष्ठा: whose pleasure-halls/chambers were blocked by the army of monkey-lords
• वानरेन्द्र-बल-रुद्ध-विहार-कोष्ठा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वानरेन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक) + रुद्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + विहार (प्रातिपदिक) + कोष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समासः; प्रथमा, एकवचन; स्त्रीलिङ्ग (कोष्ठा); विशेषणम् (of sā)

• श्री-द्वार-गोपुर-सदः-वलभी-विṭङ्का: with splendid gates, towers, halls, balconies, and ramparts
• श्री-द्वार-गोपुर-सदः-वलभी-विṭङ्का: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वार (प्रातिपदिक) + गोपुर (प्रातिपदिक) + सदस् (प्रातिपदिक) + वलभी (प्रातिपदिक) + विटङ्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार-द्वन्द्व/समुच्चयार्थ-समासः (list of architectural parts); प्रथमा, एकवचन; स्त्रीलिङ्ग; विशेषणम् (of sā)

• निर्भज्यमान-धिषण-ध्वज-हेम-कुम्भ-शृङ्गाटका: whose platforms, banners, golden finials/pots and crossroads-towers were being smashed
• निर्भज्यमान-धिषण-ध्वज-हेम-कुम्भ-शृङ्गाटका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्भज्यमान (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; भञ्ज् धातु) + धिषण (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक) + हेम (प्रातिपदिक) + कुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + शृङ्गाटक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समासः; प्रथमा, एकवचन; स्त्रीलिङ्ग; विशेषणम् (of sā); 'being shattered' (present passive participle)

• गज-कुलैः: by herds of elephants
• गज-कुलैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक) + कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः; तृतीया, बहुवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (कुल)

• ह्रदिनी-इव: like a river
• ह्रदिनी-इव: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह्रदिनी (प्रातिपदिक) + इव (अव्यय)
• Form: इव = उपमानवाचक अव्यय (particle of comparison); ह्रदिनी प्रथमा एकवचन स्त्रीलिङ्ग (upamāna)

• घूर्णा: whirling; in turmoil
• घूर्णा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घूर्णा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; स्त्रीलिङ्ग; विशेषणम् (of sā)

Characters & Entities

• Hanuman
• Sugriva
• Rama
• Vanara-sena

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam describe about the vanara army’s assault on Lanka?

This verse portrays Lanka’s opulent structures—gates, towers, halls, balconies, and golden domes—being smashed and thrown into turmoil as the powerful monkey leaders and their armies overrun the city.

Why is Lanka compared to a lake churned by elephants in Bhagavatam 9.10.17?

The comparison highlights violent agitation: just as elephants churn a lake into swirling waves, the vanara forces churned the city into confusion by breaking its fortifications and landmarks.

What is a practical lesson from this shloka for modern life?

Worldly splendor and “fortresses” of pride can collapse quickly; lasting security comes from aligning one’s life with dharma and devotion rather than relying on external power and opulence.