Shloka 32

युद्धलक्षण-निमित्तदर्शनं तथा लङ्काद्वारव्यूहः

War Omens and the Encirclement of Lanka’s Gates

Devanagari script

पताकामालिनींरम्यामुद्यानवनशोभिताम् ।चित्रवप्रासुदुष्प्रापमुच्चैःप्राकारतोरणाम् ।।6.41.31।।तांसुरैरपिदुर्धर्षांरामवाक्यप्रचोदिताः ।यथानिदेशंसम्पीड्यन्यविशन्तवनौकसः ।।6.41.32।।

Transliteration

tāṁ surair api durdharṣāṁ rāma-vākya-pracoditāḥ |

yathā-nideśaṁ sampīḍya nyaviśanta vanaukasaḥ ||6.41.32||

Translation

Durch Rāmas Befehl angetrieben drangen die Waldbewohner in jene Stadt ein—selbst für die Götter schwer zu erstürmen—und bezogen ihre Stellungen nach der erteilten Weisung.

Word by Word

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

• सुरैः: by the gods
• सुरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle), अपि = even/also

• दुर्धर्षाम्: hard to assail
• दुर्धर्षाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् (उपसर्ग) + धर्ष (√धृष् धातु से)
• Form: कृदन्त/विशेषण (दुर्धर्ष = difficult to assail); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण to ताम्

• रामवाक्यप्रचोदिताः: urged by Rama's words
• रामवाक्यप्रचोदिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक) + वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक) + प्र-√चुद् (धातु) + इत (क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (रामस्य वाक्येन प्रचोदिताः); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण to वनौकसः

• यथा: as
• यथा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) = as/according to

• निदेशम्: instruction/command
• निदेशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निदेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; यथा इत्यस्य सह प्रयोगः (yathā + acc.)

• सम्पीड्य: having pressed/closing in
• सम्पीड्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√पीड् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), ‘having pressed/closing in’

• न्यविशन्त: entered
• न्यविशन्त: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√विश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• वनौकसः: forest-dwellers (monkeys)
• वनौकसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक) + ओकस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (वने ओकः यस्य/ये); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Context

Commanded by Rama's words the Vanaras remaining in their positions as ordained, entered the wonderful Lanka, which was decorated with flags, embellished with gardens. The defensive walls and arches of the boundary of Lanka were difficult to access even for Devatas.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Laṅkā
• Suras (gods)

FAQs

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

Dharma is disciplined obedience to rightful leadership: coordinated action, based on truthful and clear command, protects the many and advances the just objective.

What is the narrative situation?

The vānara forces enter Lanka in an organized manner, following Rama’s instructions despite the city’s formidable defenses.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Organizational discipline and trust in righteous command.