Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 3, Shloka 22

लङ्कादुर्गवर्णनम्

Description of Lanka’s Fortifications and Forces

Devanagari script

शैलाग्रेरचितादुर्गासापुरैर्देवपुरोपमा ।वाजिवारणासम्पूर्णालङ्कापरमदुर्जया ।।।।

Transliteration

śailāgre racitā durgā sā purair devapuropamā | vājivāraṇasampūrṇā laṅkā paramadurjayā ||

Translation

Als Festung auf einem Berggipfel erbaut, glich jene Stadt einer göttlichen Metropole der Devas; erfüllt von Pferden und Elefanten war Laṅkā überaus schwer zu erobern.

Word by Word

• शैलाग्रे: on the mountain peak
• शैलाग्रे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaila + agra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), सप्तमी (Loc./7th), एकवचन (sg.); तत्पुरुष: शैलस्य अग्रे (on the mountain-peak)

• रचिता: constructed
• रचिता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of दुर्गा
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √rac (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle), क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन (sg.)

• दुर्गा: fortress / stronghold
• दुर्गा: Karta (कर्ता) (copular description)
• Type: Noun
• Root: durgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन (sg.)

• सा: that (she/it)
• सा: Karta (कर्ता) (refers to लङ्का/दुर्गा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन (sg.)

• पुरैः: with (its) buildings/city-structures
• पुरैः: Karaṇa (करण) / Instrumental of accompaniment
• Type: Noun
• Root: pura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), तृतीया (Instr./3rd), बहुवचन (pl.)

• देवपुरोपमा: like the city of the gods
• देवपुरोपमा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of सा/लङ्का
• Type: Adjective
• Root: deva + pura + upamā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन (sg.); तत्पुरुष: देवपुरस्य उपमा (like a city of gods)

• वाजिवारणसम्पूर्णा: filled with horses and elephants
• वाजिवारणसम्पूर्णा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of लङ्का
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāji + vāraṇa + sampūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन (sg.); तत्पुरुष (समाहार/द्वन्द्व-पूर्वपद within): वाजिभिः वारणैः च सम्पूर्णा (filled with horses and elephants)

• लङ्का: Lanka
• लङ्का: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: laṅkā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन (sg.)

• परमदुर्जया: most difficult to conquer
• परमदुर्जया: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of लङ्का
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama + durjayā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन (sg.); कर्मधारय: परमा च सा दुर्जया च (supremely hard to conquer)

Context

"It is inaccessible like the abode of devatas as it is on the peak of the mountain. It is difficult to conquer for any one as it is full of horses and elephants."

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā
• vāraṇa (elephants)

FAQs

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

The verse supports dharmic strategy: recognizing an opponent’s strength prevents reckless violence and encourages planned, proportionate action.

What is the narrative situation?

Laṅkā’s natural and military advantages are described—its mountain position and abundant war resources.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Strategic sobriety—measuring strength accurately rather than underestimating the enemy.