Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 3, Shloka 30

लङ्कादुर्गवर्णनम्

Description of Lanka’s Fortifications and Forces

Devanagari script

येनकेनतुमार्गेणतरामवरुणालयम् ।हतेतिनगरीलङ्कावानरैरवधार्यताम् ।। ।।

Transliteration

yena kena tu mārgeṇa tarāma varuṇālayam | hateti nagarī laṅkā vānarair avadhāryatām ||

Translation

By whatever route we manage to cross the ocean, Varuṇa’s abode—once the Vānaras have crossed, let it be understood that the city of Laṅkā is as good as destroyed.

Word by Word

• येन: by which
• येन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• केन: by some (any)
• केन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Interrogative pronoun used indefinitively, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• तु: however/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), adversative/emphatic

• मार्गेण: by a way/route
• मार्गेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• तराम: let us cross
• तराम: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tṝ (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ? actually Optative/vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन); parasmaipada

• वरुणालयम्: the ocean (abode of Varuṇa)
• वरुणालयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varuṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ālaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: "वरुणस्य आलयः"), Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• हता: destroyed
• हता: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: han (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/ktá), Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agrees with "नगरी"

• इति: thus/as
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-निपात)

• नगरी: city
• नगरी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nagarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• लङ्का: Lanka
• लङ्का: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: laṅkā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; apposition to "नगरी"

• वानरैः: by the monkeys (vanaras)
• वानरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• अवधार्यताम्: let it be concluded/accepted
• अवधार्यताम्: Vidhi (विधि/command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava√dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (imperative/आज्ञार्थ), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; Ātmanepada; passive-like sense "let it be ascertained"

Context

"If by whatever means the passage of ocean can be crossed by vanaras it can be taken for granted that the city of Lanka is destroyed."

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Rāma
• Laṅkā
• Vānaras
• Varuṇa
• Ocean (Varuṇālaya)

FAQs

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

Dharma is unwavering commitment to a just purpose: once the righteous side gains access, injustice cannot stand. The verse frames confidence as service to duty, not pride.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān urges that the decisive step is crossing the ocean; once the Vānara host reaches Laṅkā, victory is effectively assured.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Resolute courage (dhairya) coupled with faith in collective effort under righteous leadership.