Shloka 8

लङ्कादर्शनम्

Viewing Laṅkā and its Forest-Gardens

Devanagari script

तच्चैत्ररथसङ्काशंमनोज्ञंनन्दनोपमम् ।वनंसर्वरर्तुकंरम्यंशुशुभेषटपदायुतम् ।।6.39.8।।

Transliteration

tac caitrarathasaṅkāśaṃ manojñaṃ nandanopamam |

vanaṃ sarvarartukaṃ ramyaṃ śuśubhe ṣaṭapadāyutam ||6.39.8||

Translation

সে মনোরম বনটি চৈত্ররথের ন্যায় এবং ইন্দ্রের নন্দন-উদ্যানের তুল্য; সর্বঋতুতে রমণীয়, আর ভ্রমরসমূহের দলে দলে দীপ্তিমান।

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• चैत्ररथसङ्काशम्: resembling Chaitraratha (garden)
• चैत्ररथसङ्काशम्: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चैत्ररथ + सङ्काश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: चैत्ररथस्य सङ्काशम् (like Chaitraratha); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मनोज्ञम्: pleasing
• मनोज्ञम्: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनोज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• नन्दनोपमम्: like Nandana (garden)
• नन्दनोपमम्: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नन्दन + उपम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: नन्दनस्य उपमम् (like Nandana); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वनम्: forest/grove
• वनम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सर्वरर्तुकम्: having all seasons
• सर्वरर्तुकम्: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + ऋतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: सर्वे ऋतवः यस्मिन्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• रम्यम्: lovely
• रम्यम्: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शुशुभे: shone
• शुशुभे: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुभ्/शोभ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद

• षटपदायुतम्: filled with bees
• षटपदायुतम्: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट् + पद + आयुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: षट्पदैः (भ्रमरैः) आयुतम् (युक्तम्/समेतम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

Context

Appearing like the chaitra chariot of Kubera, Nandana garden of Indra, green in all seasons filled with bees, the garden was a wonderful delight.

Characters & Entities

• Caitraratha
• Nandana
• Indra
• bees (ṣaṭpada)

FAQs

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

The dharmic takeaway is comparative discernment: even a place that looks ‘heavenly’ (like Indra’s gardens) may be the stage for adharma. The Ramayana urges alignment with satya over attraction to seemingly divine prosperity.

What is the narrative situation?

The poet heightens Laṅkā’s atmosphere by comparing its grove to famous celestial gardens, emphasizing perennial beauty and the hum of bees.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadiness in purpose (dhṛti): maintaining the mission grounded in dharma even amid enchanting surroundings.