Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 108, Shloka 22

रावणरथवैभव–निमित्तदर्शन–राममातलिसंवादः

Ravana’s Chariot, Portents, and Rama–Matali Instructions

Devanagari script

सन्ध्ययाचावृतालङ्काजपापुष्पनिकाशया ।।।।दृश्यतेसम्प्रदीप्तेवदिवसेऽपिवसुन्धरा ।

Transliteration

sandhyayā cāvṛtā laṅkā japāpuṣpanikāśayā | dṛśyate sampradīpteva divase 'pi vasundharā ||

Translation

সন্ধ্যাই আৱৰি ধৰাৰ দৰে লংকা জপা-পুষ্প সদৃশ ৰক্তিম আভাৰে আৱৃত দেখা গ’ল; দিনৰ পোহৰতো পৃথিৱী যেন জ্বলি উঠা প্ৰদীপ্ত অগ্নিময় বুলিয়েই লাগিল।

Word by Word

• सन्ध्यया: like dusk
• सन्ध्यया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्ध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन; उपमानार्थे (as/like dusk)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• आवृता: covered/enshrouded
• आवृता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-√वृ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (लङ्का)

• लङ्का: Lanka
• लङ्का: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लङ्का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जपा-पुष्प-निकाशया: as if by (a hue) like japa-flowers
• जपा-पुष्प-निकाशया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जपा (प्रातिपदिक) + पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + निकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (जपापुष्पस्य निकाशा = like japa-flowers), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपमान-करणम्

• दृश्यते: is seen/appears
• दृश्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (passive sense: is seen/appears)

• सम्प्रदीप्ता-इव: as if blazing
• सम्प्रदीप्ता-इव: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्+प्र+दीप् (धातु)
• Form: इव = अव्यय (particle of comparison); सम्प्रदीप्ता = भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (understood with वसुन्धरा)

• दिवसे: in daytime
• दिवसे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि = even/also (emphatic particle)

• वसुन्धरा: the earth/ground
• वसुन्धरा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसुन्धरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

Context

Meteors and huge fire dropped there indicating Ravana's end. Seeing them, Rakshasas were sad.

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā
• earth (vasundharā)

FAQs

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

When adharma dominates a realm, even its ‘daylight’ is darkened—Dharma is depicted as the condition for social and cosmic clarity.

What is the narrative situation?

The setting itself becomes ominous: Laṅkā and the earth take on an unnatural red gloom before the climax.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Collective responsibility: a kingdom’s moral state affects its atmosphere; righteous governance (rājadharma) is implied by contrast.