Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 3, Shloka 13

लङ्कादुर्गवर्णनम्

Description of Lanka’s Fortifications and Forces

Devanagari script

द्वारेषुसंस्कृताभीमाःकालायसमयाश्शिताः ।शतशोरचितावीरैश्शतघ्नयोरक्षसांगणै ।।।।

Transliteration

dvāreṣu saṃskṛtā bhīmāḥ kālāyasa-mayāḥ śitāḥ | śataśo racitā vīraiḥ śataghnayo rakṣasāṃ gaṇaiḥ ||

Translation

وعند الأبواب نُصِبت مئاتٌ من الشَّتاغْنِيّاتِ المهيبة، مصنوعةٌ من الحديد الأسود ومسنونةٌ، رتّبتها جماعاتُ محاربي الرَّاكْشَسَة.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb: 'there')

• इषूपलयन्त्राणि: dart- and stone-engines
• इषूपलयन्त्राणि: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इषु + उपल + यन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (इषु-यन्त्राणि च उपल-यन्त्राणि च)

• बलवन्ति: powerful
• बलवन्ति: Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying यन्त्राणि)

• महान्ति: large
• महान्ति: Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying यन्त्राणि)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

• आगतम्: arrived, having come
• आगतम्: Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying परसैन्यम्)

• परसैन्यम्: the enemy army
• परसैन्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर + सैन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (परा सेना = enemy army)

• तैः: by those (engines)
• तैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (refers to यन्त्राणि)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb)

• प्रतिनिवार्यते: is repelled, is checked
• प्रतिनिवार्यते: Kriya (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + नि + वृत्/वृ (धातु; causative/passive sense)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

Context

At the entrances are troops of terrific looking guards kept ready with a hundred sharpened stones studded with iron spikes.

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā
• rākṣasas
• dvāra (gates)
• śataghnī

FAQs

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

The verse reinforces the dharmic need for prudent planning in warfare: knowing the weapons and defenses helps prevent reckless loss of life.

What is the narrative situation?

A detailed inventory-like description of Laṅkā’s gate defenses and armed guard arrangements.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Alertness and preparedness—virtues necessary for protection, though here shown in the adversary’s city.