Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 11, Shloka 22

रावणस्य सभाप्रवेशः

Ravana Enters the Royal Assembly and Summons Counsel

Devanagari script

सापुरीपरमाकीर्णारथकुञ्जरवाजिभिः ।सम्पतद्भिर्विरुरुचेगरुत्मद्भिरिवाम्बरम् ।।।।

Transliteration

sā purī paramākīrṇā ratha-kuñjara-vājibhiḥ |

sampatadbhiḥ viruroce garutmadbhir ivāmbaram ||

Translation

That city, densely filled with chariots, elephants, and horses rushing along, shone like the sky crowded with winged birds.

Word by Word

• सा: that
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• पुरी: city
• पुरी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• परम-आकीर्णा: densely crowded
• परम-आकीर्णा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + आकीर्ण (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास ('exceedingly filled'); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण to पुरी; आकीर्ण = आ + कृ (धातु) से क्त-प्रत्ययान्त

• रथ-कुञ्जर-वाजिभिः: with chariots, elephants, and horses
• रथ-कुञ्जर-वाजिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ + कुञ्जर + वाजिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास; पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental, 3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सम्पतद्भिः: rushing/moving swiftly
• सम्पतद्भिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + पत् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present participle); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण to रथ-कुञ्जर-वाजिभिः

• विरुरुचे: shone
• विरुरुचे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रुच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (Singular); आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada)

• गरुत्मद्भिः: with winged ones (birds)
• गरुत्मद्भिः: Upamana-karana (उपमान-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गरुत्मत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental, 3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• इव: like
• इव: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (particle of comparison: 'like')

• अम्बरम्: the sky
• अम्बरम्: Upameya (उपमेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular); उपमेय (thing compared)

Context

Parking those vehicles of several kinds at the entrance they entered the royal court by foot like the lions entering the cave of a mountain.

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā (implied capital/city)
• chariots
• elephants
• horses

FAQs

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

The verse contrasts grandeur with moral direction: social power can create dazzling spectacle, but dharma asks whether such mobilization serves truth (satya) and justice.

What is the narrative situation?

The capital becomes crowded and radiant as forces and attendants surge toward the center of governance.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

No single virtue is singled out; the focus is on collective momentum and the impressive scale of the gathering.