Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 42, Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

ततःसहस्रयूथाश्चकोटीयूथाश्चवानराः ।कोटीशतयुताश्चान्येलङ्कामारुरुहुस्तदा ।।।।

Transliteration

tataḥ sahasrayūthāś ca koṭīyūthāś ca vānarāḥ |

koṭīśatayutāś cānye laṅkām āruruhus tadā ||

Translation

Then the vānaras—ranged in thousands of troops, crores of troops, and others in hundreds of crores—climbed up into Laṅkā.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (ततः अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अपादान/क्रमवाचक (then/thereupon)

• सहस्रयूथाः: in thousands of troops
• सहस्रयूथाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sahasra (सहस्र) + yūtha (यूथ)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (द्विगु-प्राय: सहस्रं यूथानि येषाम्/सहस्रयूथाः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; वानराः इति विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha-sūcaka (सम्बन्धसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक

• कोटीयूथाः: in crores of troops
• कोटीयूथाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: koṭi (कोटि) + yūtha (यूथ)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कोटि-परिमाण-सम्बन्धः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; वानराः इति विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha-sūcaka (सम्बन्धसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक

• वानराः: vanaras
• वानराः: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (वानर प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• कोटीशतयुताः: joined with hundreds of crores
• कोटीशतयुताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: koṭi (कोटि) + śata (शत) + yuta (युत)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (परिमाणवाचक); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; अन्ये इति विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha-sūcaka (सम्बन्धसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक

• अन्ये: others
• अन्ये: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (अन्य प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

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

• आरुरुहुः: climbed/ascended
• आरुरुहुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-ruh (आ + रुह् धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (तदा अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक

Context

Then the Vanaras in thousands and crores ascended Lanka.

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā
• Vānara army

FAQs

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

Dharma is upheld through collective participation: the restoration of justice becomes a shared responsibility, not confined to a single hero.

What is the narrative situation?

The text emphasizes the immense scale of the vānaras as they surge into Laṅkā during the opening breach.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Unity and commitment—many acting as one body for a righteous end.