Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 42, Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

काञ्चनानिप्रमृद्नन्तस्तोरणानिप्लवङ्गमाः ।कैलासशिखराभानिगोपुराणिप्रमथ्यच ।।।।

Transliteration

kāñcanāni pramṛdnantas toraṇāni plavaṅgamāḥ |

kailāsaśikharābhāni gopurāṇi pramathya ca ||

Translation

The vānaras crushed the golden gateways, and they also shattered the lofty gopuras—towers gleaming like the peaks of Kailāsa.

Word by Word

• काञ्चनानि: golden
• काञ्चनानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāñcana (काञ्चन प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; तोरणानि इति विशेषणम्

• प्रमृद्नन्तः: crushing/breaking
• प्रमृद्नन्तः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-mṛd (प्र + मृद् धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; प्लवङ्गमाः इति विशेषणम्

• तोरणानि: gateways
• तोरणानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: toraṇa (तोरण प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• प्लवङ्गमाः: monkeys
• प्लवङ्गमाः: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: plavaṅgama (प्लवङ्गम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• कैलासशिखराभानि: shining like Kailasa peaks
• कैलासशिखराभानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kailāsa (कैलास) + śikhara (शिखर) + ābhā (आभा)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (कैलासस्य शिखरवत् आभा येषाम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; गोपुराणि इति विशेषणम्

• गोपुराणि: towers/gatehouses
• गोपुराणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gopura (गोपुर प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• प्रमथ्य: having smashed
• प्रमथ्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pra-math (प्र + मथ् धातु) + lyap (ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यबन्त अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वक्रिया (having smashed)

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

Context

The Vanaras started breaking the golden gateways and crushing them which were like peaks of Kailasa mountain.

Characters & Entities

• Vānaras (plavaṅgamāḥ)
• Laṅkā (implied)
• Gateways (toraṇa)
• Kailāsa

FAQs

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

The verse underlines that adharma’s grandeur is not a shield: even golden, imposing structures fall when confronted by a just cause—power without righteousness is fragile.

What is the narrative situation?

As the assault intensifies, the vānaras demolish prominent defensive and ceremonial structures—golden gates and towering gopuras—opening Laṅkā further to the advancing forces.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fearless execution of duty—courage directed toward dismantling the defenses of an unrighteous regime.