Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 3, Shloka 24

लङ्कादुर्गवर्णनम्

Description of Lanka’s Fortifications and Forces

Devanagari script

अयुतंरक्षसामत्रपूर्वद्वारंसमाश्रितम् ।शूलहस्तादुराधर्षास्सर्वेखङ्गाग्रयोधिनः ।।।।

Transliteration

ayutaṃ rakṣasām atra pūrvadvāraṃ samāśritam | śūlahastā durādharṣāḥ sarve khaṅgāgrayodhinaḥ ||

Translation

Dort, am östlichen Tor, sind zehntausend Rākṣasas aufgestellt: Dreizackträger, schwer zu bezwingen, alle kämpfen in vorderster Reihe, an der Schärfe des Schwertes.

Word by Word

• अयुतम्: ten thousand
• अयुतम्: Karta (कर्ता) (elliptic: रक्षसः understood) / Saṅkhyā-viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Noun
• Root: ayuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (sg.); संख्यावाचक (numeral: ten thousand)

• रक्षसाम्: of the rakshasas
• रक्षसाम्: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), षष्ठी (Gen./6th), बहुवचन (pl.)

• अत्र: here/there
• अत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक (adverb of place)

• पूर्वद्वारम्: the eastern gate
• पूर्वद्वारम्: Karma (कर्म) (with समाश्रितम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūrva + dvāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Acc./2nd), एकवचन (sg.); कर्मधारय: पूर्वं द्वारम् (eastern gate)

• समाश्रितम्: occupied / garrisoned
• समाश्रितम्: Kriyā (क्रिया) (participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√śri (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle), क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन (sg.); पूर्वद्वारम् इति कर्मणि-भाव (occupied/garrisoned)

• शूलहस्ताः: trident-handed
• शूलहस्ताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of (रक्षसः understood)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śūla + hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), बहुवचन (pl.); बहुव्रीहि: शूलः हस्ते येषाम् (those having tridents in hand)

• दुराधर्षाः: unassailable
• दुराधर्षाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dur-ādhṛṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), बहुवचन (pl.); 'दुर्' उपसर्ग (hard to assail)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), बहुवचन (pl.)

• खङ्गाग्रयोधिनः: fighters at the sword-front
• खङ्गाग्रयोधिनः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: khaṅga + agra + yodhin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), बहुवचन (pl.); तत्पुरुष: खङ्गस्य अग्रे (front/edge) योधिनः (fighters at sword-front / sword-point fighters)

Context

At the southern gate also one lakh of rakshasas are garrisoned with four divisions of army. They are also the best warriors.

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā
• pūrvadvāra (eastern gate)
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Dharma is preparedness with truthful assessment: describing the enemy’s strength accurately supports a righteous campaign by reducing reckless loss and enabling proportionate action.

What is the narrative situation?

A scout reports the distribution and armament of Laṅkā’s defending forces at the eastern gate.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Satya in reporting—clear, specific intelligence offered for the common good of the army.