Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 42, Shloka 11

लङ्काप्राकारारोहणम् / Assault on Lanka’s Ramparts and the Opening Clash

Devanagari script

शिखरैर्विकिरामैनांलङ्कांमुष्टिभिरेववा ।इतिस्मदधिरेसर्वेमनांसिहरियूथपाः ।।।।

Transliteration

śikharair vikirāma enāṃ laṅkāṃ muṣṭibhir eva vā |

iti sma dadhire sarve manāṃsi hariyūthapāḥ ||

Translation

All the vānaras resolved in their hearts: “We will smash this Laṅkā—if not with torn mountain-peaks, then even with our bare fists.”

Word by Word

• शिखरैः: with peaks
• शिखरैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śikhara (शिखर प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• विकिराम: (we) will scatter
• विकिराम: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-kṛ (वि + कृ धातु)
• Form: लृङ्/लोट्? (पाठभेद-सन्देह); अर्थतः भविष्यत्/इच्छार्थक: 'we shall scatter'; उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचन (अध्याहृत 'वयम्')

• एनाम्: her/this (city)
• एनाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (इदम् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• लङ्काम्: Lanka
• लङ्काम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: laṅkā (लङ्का प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मुष्टिभिः: with fists
• मुष्टिभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muṣṭi (मुष्टि प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha-sūcaka (सम्बन्धसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha-sūcaka (सम्बन्धसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विकल्पार्थक (disjunctive: or)

• इति: thus
• इति: Vākyārtha-dyotaka (वाक्यार्थद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, इत्यादि-उद्धरणसूचक (quotative)

• स्म: indeed (narrative particle)
• स्म: Kriyā-dyotaka (क्रियाद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sma (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, भूतार्थ/अनुस्मरणार्थक निपात (particle, often with past narration)

• दधिरे: they held/formed
• दधिरे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धृ धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (सर्व प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; हरियूथपाः इति विशेषणम्

• मनांसि: minds/intentions
• मनांसि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (मनस् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• हरियूथपाः: leaders of monkey-troops
• हरियूथपाः: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (हरि) + yūthapa (यूथप)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: हरीणां यूथपाः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Context

The monkey troops thought of crushing Lanka with their fists and mountain peaks.

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā
• Vānara troops (hariyūthapāḥ)
• Mountain peaks (śikhara)

FAQs

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

The verse foregrounds steadfast commitment to a righteous mission: when aligned with dharma, collective resolve becomes a moral force against tyranny.

What is the narrative situation?

The vānaras, stirred by Rāma’s command and the imminent battle, internally vow to overpower Laṅkā’s defenses by any means available.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Utsāha (energetic resolve) and loyalty to the dharmic leader and cause.