Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 42, Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

वीरबाहुःसुबाहुश्चनलश्चवनगोचरः ।निपीड्योपनिविष्टास्तेप्राकारंहरियूथपाः ।एतस्मिन्नन्तरेचक्रुःस्कन्धावारनिवेशनम् ।। ।।

Transliteration

vīrabāhuḥ subāhuś ca nalaś ca vanagocaraḥ |

nipīḍyopaniviṣṭās te prākāraṃ hariyūthapāḥ |

etasminn antare cakruḥ skandhāvāraniveśanam ||

Translation

Vīrabāhu, Subāhu, and Nala—moving through the forest ways—pressed hard upon the rampart and took position there as Vānara commanders; in the meantime they established a military encampment (a division’s station).

Word by Word

• वीरबाहुः: Virabahu
• वीरबाहुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीरबाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (नाम)

• सुबाहुः: Subahu
• सुबाहुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुबाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (नाम)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• नलः: Nala
• नलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (नाम)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• वनगोचरः: forest-roaming
• वनगोचरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक) + गोचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—वनगोचरः = वने गोचरः (moving in the forest)

• निपीड्य: having pressed / having stormed
• निपीड्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नि + पीड् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable)

• उपनिविष्टाः: having taken position / encamped
• उपनिविष्टाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + नि + विश् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; स्थित्यर्थ (having taken position/encamped)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (pronoun: they)

• प्राकारम्: the rampart
• प्राकारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• हरियूथपाः: leaders of monkey troops
• हरियूथपाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक) + यूथप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—हरियूथपाः = हरीणां यूथपाः (leaders of monkey-troops)

• एतस्मिन्: in this
• एतस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative 7th), एकवचन

• अन्तरे: in the interval / meantime
• अन्तरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; काल/अवसरवाचक (in the meantime)

• चक्रुः: made / set up
• चक्रुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• स्कन्धावारनिवेशनम्: a camp-encampment / camp establishment
• स्कन्धावारनिवेशनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्कन्धावार (प्रातिपदिक) + निवेशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—स्कन्धावारनिवेशनम् = स्कन्धावारे निवेशनम् (establishment of a camp)

Context

Veerabahu, Subahu, Nala and the foremost of the Vanara leaders storming the boundary walls in the meantime went inside and stationed at the northeast gate.

Characters & Entities

• Vīrabāhu
• Subāhu
• Nala
• Vānara
• Prākāra

FAQs

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

Dharma in conflict includes discipline and order: righteous force is organized, not chaotic—leaders take positions and establish camps responsibly.

What is the narrative situation?

Key Vānara commanders press the ramparts and set up a formal encampment, indicating structured siege operations.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Niyama (discipline) and netṛtva (leadership) in coordinated action.