Shloka 56

युद्धलक्षण-निमित्तदर्शनं तथा लङ्काद्वारव्यूहः

War Omens and the Encirclement of Lanka’s Gates

Devanagari script

तेनशब्देनमहतासप्राकारासतोरणा ।।6.41.56।।लङ्काप्रचलितासर्वासशैलवनकानना ।

Transliteration

tena śabdena mahatā sa-prākārā sa-toraṇā |

laṅkā pracalitā sarvā sa-śaila-vana-kānanā ||6.41.56||

Translation

Durch jenes mächtige Tosen erbebte ganz Laṅkā—mit ihren Wällen und Toren, ihren Hügeln und Waldhainen, alles zugleich erzitternd.

Word by Word

• tena: by that
• tena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/Napumsaka, Tṛtīyā (3), Ekavacana; pronoun

• śabdena: sound
• śabdena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śabda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3), Ekavacana

• mahatā: great
• mahatā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3), Ekavacana; agrees with śabdena

• sa-prākārā: with ramparts
• sa-prākārā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (सह) + prākāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Upapada-tatpuruṣa (सह प्राकारैः); Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1), Ekavacana; qualifies laṅkā

• sa-toraṇā: with gateways/arches
• sa-toraṇā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (सह) + toraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Upapada-tatpuruṣa (सह तोरणैः); Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1), Ekavacana; qualifies laṅkā

• laṅkā: Lanka
• laṅkā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: laṅkā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1), Ekavacana

• pracalitā: shaken/moved
• pracalitā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/State (भाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√cal (चल्) (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kta-participle, Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1), Ekavacana; predicate adjective

• sarvā: entire
• sarvā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1), Ekavacana; agrees with laṅkā

• sa-śaila-vana-kānanā: with mountains, forests, and groves
• sa-śaila-vana-kānanā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (सह) + śaila + vana + kānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Upapada + dvandva cluster: 'with mountains, forests, and groves'; Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1), Ekavacana; qualifies laṅkā

Context

By the great sound the boundary, the archways and the mountains and forests shook violently.

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā

FAQs

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

Adharma’s strongholds are unstable when confronted by rightful action; even fortified power can tremble before moral force.

What is the narrative situation?

The approaching Vānara host creates such a roar that the entire city of Laṅkā seems to quake.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Dhairya (steadfastness) implied in the attackers, and the fragility of arrogance implied in the defenders’ domain.