Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 53, Shloka 7

युद्धकाण्डे त्रिपञ्चाशः सर्गः — धूम्राक्षवधश्रवणं, वज्रदंष्ट्रप्रेषणं, अङ्गद-राक्षसयुद्धम्

Ravana Dispatches Vajradamshtra; Portents and Angada’s Assault

Devanagari script

पताकालङ्कृतंदीप्तंतप्तकाञ्चनभूषितम् ।रथंप्रदक्षिणंकृत्वासमारोहच्चमूपतिः ।।।।

Transliteration

patākālaṅkṛtaṃ dīptaṃ taptakāñcanabhūṣitam |

rathaṃ pradakṣiṇaṃ kṛtvā samārohat camūpatiḥ ||6.53.7||

Translation

وقائدُ الجيش، بعدما طاف بخشوعٍ حول عربته المزيّنة بالرايات طوافًا يمينيًّا، صعد إليها؛ وكانت متلألئةً مزدانةً بحُليٍّ من ذهبٍ لامع.

Word by Word

• पताकालङ्कृतम्: decorated with flags
• पताकालङ्कृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पताका (प्रातिपदिक) + अलङ्कृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—पताकाभिः अलङ्कृतम् (adorned with flags)

• दीप्तम्: shining
• दीप्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP used adjectivally), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; रथम् इति विशेषणम्

• तप्तकाञ्चनभूषितम्: adorned with polished gold
• तप्तकाञ्चनभूषितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + काञ्चन (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—तप्तकाञ्चनेन भूषितम् (adorned with heated/polished gold)

• रथम्: chariot
• रथम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• प्रदक्षिणम्: clockwise
• प्रदक्षिणम्: Manner (रीति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रदक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverbial accusative), 'clockwise/keeping to the right'

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund), 'having done/made'

• समारोहत्: mounted, ascended
• समारोहत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-रुह् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• चमूपतिः: the army-commander
• चमूपतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चमू (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—चम्वाः पतिः (lord of the army)

Context

The general went ascending the chariot shining with well polished shining gold, decked with flags after going around clockwise.

Characters & Entities

• ratha (chariot)
• patākā (flags/banners)

FAQs

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

Dharma here appears as disciplined conduct before action: the commander performs an auspicious, respectful pradakṣiṇā, suggesting that even in war one should act with reverence, order, and self-control rather than impulsiveness.

What is the narrative situation?

On the battlefield sequence, a military leader prepares to engage by mounting a splendid, bannered chariot after performing a clockwise circumambulation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Military decorum and steadiness—readiness for duty combined with ritual propriety (maryādā) before entering combat.