Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 42, Shloka 45

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

Devanagari script

राक्षसास्त्वपरेभीमाःप्राकारस्थामहीगतान् ।भिन्दिपालैश्चखड्गैश्चशूलैश्चैवव्यदारयन् ।।।।

Transliteration

rākṣasās tv apare bhīmāḥ prākārasthā mahīgatān |

bhindipālaiś ca khaḍgaiś ca śūlaiś caiva vyadārayan ||

Translation

غير أنّ رَاكشاسا آخرين مُرعِبين، قائمين على الأسوار، كانوا يمزّقون الفانارا في الأسفل على الأرض برماحِ البِهينديبالا والسيوفِ والرماحِ الثلاثية.

Word by Word

• rākṣasāḥ: Rakshasas
• rākṣasāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st/nominative), Bahuvacana

• tu: but
• tu: Vākyasambandha (discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adversative particle (विरोध/तु)

• apare: others
• apare: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st/nominative), Bahuvacana; ‘other’ (qualifies rākṣasāḥ)

• bhīmāḥ: terrible
• bhīmāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhīma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; qualifies rākṣasāḥ

• prākārasthāḥ: standing on the walls
• prākārasthāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prākāra + stha (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa ‘prākāre sthāḥ’ = standing on the rampart

• mahīgatān: those on the ground
• mahīgatān: Karma (कर्म; object of vyadārayan)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahī + gata (कृदन्त; √gam with prefix)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd/accusative), Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa sense ‘mahīm gatān’ = those who had come to the ground

• bhindipālaiḥ: with bhindipāla-spears
• bhindipālaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhindipāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd/instrumental), Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Samucchaya
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• khaḍgaiḥ: with swords
• khaḍgaiḥ: Karaṇa
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaḍga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Samucchaya
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• śūlaiḥ: with tridents/spears
• śūlaiḥ: Karaṇa
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Samucchaya
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• eva: indeed
• eva: Vākyasambandha (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic particle (निश्चय/एव)

• vyadārayan: tore; pierced
• vyadārayan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛ (धातु) with vi- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: Laṅ lakāra (imperfect), Prathama puruṣa (3rd), Bahuvacana; Parasmaipada; causative-like sense ‘tore/pierced’

Context

Standing on the walls, the redoubtable Rakshasas, pierced the Vanaras with swords, dreadful Bhindipalas.

Characters & Entities

• Rākṣasas
• Vānaras
• Sword (khaḍga)
• Trident (śūla)

FAQs

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

It illustrates how strategic advantage can magnify harm; dharma requires that power and position be used responsibly, not for unjust aggression.

What is the narrative situation?

Rākṣasas positioned on the fortifications strike down at the Vānaras fighting below.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Martial skill and tactical positioning are shown, but ethically framed as serving an unrighteous defense of Rāvaṇa’s cause.