Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 3, Shloka 11

लङ्कादुर्गवर्णनम्

Description of Lanka’s Fortifications and Forces

Devanagari script

दृढबद्धकवाटानिमहापरिघवन्तिच ।द्वाराणिविपुलान्यस्याश्चत्वारिसुमहान्तिच ।।।।

Transliteration

dṛḍha-baddha-kavāṭāni mahā-parighavanti ca | dvārāṇi vipulāny asyāś catvāri su-mahānti ca ||

Translation

Ihre Zugänge waren weit; die Tore fest verriegelt und mit gewaltigen Eisenriegeln verstärkt; und ihre vier großen Haupttore waren ehrfurchtgebietend.

Word by Word

• हृष्टप्रमुदिता: delighted and joyful
• हृष्टप्रमुदिता: Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृष्ट + प्रमुदित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (हृष्टा च प्रमुदिता च)

• लङ्का: Lanka
• लङ्का: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लङ्का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• मत्तद्विपसमाकुला: crowded with rutting elephants
• मत्तद्विपसमाकुला: Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत्त + द्विप + समाकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुष (मत्तद्विपैः समाकुला = crowded with rutting elephants)

• महती: great, vast
• महती: Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying लङ्का)

• रथसंपूर्णा: filled with chariots
• रथसंपूर्णा: Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रथ + संपूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुष (रथैः संपूर्णा = filled with chariots)

• रक्षोगणसमाकुला: crowded with rakshasa hordes
• रक्षोगणसमाकुला: Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्षस् + गण + समाकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुष (रक्षोगणैः समाकुला = crowded with troops of rakshasas)

Context

"Lanka is endowed with lofty wide courtyards, entrances with doors that are fixed with metal fixtures and large iron bars."

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā
• dvāra (gates)
• parigha (iron bars)

FAQs

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

Dharma in conflict includes preparedness and minimizing needless loss; understanding defenses enables choices that avoid reckless assault.

What is the narrative situation?

The text details the city’s defensive architecture to convey how formidable Laṅkā is.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Practical intelligence (nīti-buddhi): careful assessment of obstacles before acting.