Shloka 15

सुवेलारोहणम्

The Ascent of Suvela and the First Full View of Laṅkā

Devanagari script

तांशुभांप्रवरद्वारांप्राकारपरिशोभिताम् ।।।।लङ्कांराक्षससम्पूर्णांददृशुर्हरियूथपाः ।

Transliteration

tāṁ śubhāṁ pravaradvārāṁ prākārapariśobhitām |

laṅkāṁ rākṣasasampūrṇāṁ dadṛśur hariyūthapāḥ ||6.38.15||

Translation

Die Anführer der Vānara erblickten Laṅkā: herrlich, mit vortrefflichen Toren, geschmückt mit Mauern und Wehrgängen, doch überall erfüllt von Rākṣasas.

Word by Word

• ताम्: that (Lanka)
• ताम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• शुभाम्: auspicious/beautiful
• शुभाम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रवरद्वाराम्: having excellent gates
• प्रवरद्वाराम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रवर + द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: प्रवराणि द्वाराणि यस्याः/या; स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्राकारपरिशोभिताम्: adorned with ramparts
• प्राकारपरिशोभिताम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राकार + परि + शोभित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √शुभ्/शोभ्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (instrumental sense): प्राकारैः परिशोभिता; स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त

• लङ्काम्: Lanka
• लङ्काम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लङ्का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• राक्षससम्पूर्णाम्: filled with Rakshasas
• राक्षससम्पूर्णाम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राक्षस + सम्पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: राक्षसैः सम्पूर्णा; स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• ददृशुः: saw
• ददृशुः: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद

• हरियूथपाः: leaders of the Vanara troops
• हरियूथपाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि + यूथप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: हरीणां यूथपाः; पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

Context

The vanara heroes witnessed beautiful gateways, captivating boundaries of auspicious Lanka filled all over with rakshasas.

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā
• Rākṣasas
• Hariyūthapas (vanara chiefs)

FAQs

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

Dharma discerns substance beyond appearance: a city may be outwardly splendid, yet morally compromised by the presence and power of adharmic forces.

What is the narrative situation?

From Suvela, the vanara leaders survey Laṅkā’s fortifications and recognize it as a formidable, rākṣasa-held stronghold.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discrimination (viveka): accurately judging the adversary’s strength and the moral stakes.