Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 42, Shloka 14

लङ्काप्राकारारोहणम् / Assault on Lanka’s Ramparts and the Opening Clash

Devanagari script

तेताम्रवक्त्राहेमाभारामार्थेत्यक्तजीविताः ।लङ्कामेवाभ्यवर्तन्तसालतालशिलायुधाः ।।।।

Transliteration

te tāmravaktrā hemābhā rāmārthe tyaktajīvitāḥ |

laṅkām evābhyavartanta sālatālaśilāyudhāḥ ||

Translation

Jene Vānaras — die einen kupfergesichtig, die anderen goldglänzend — die für Rāmas Sache ihr Leben eingesetzt hatten, stürmten geradewegs auf Laṅkā zu, mit Sāla- und Tāla-Bäumen und Steinen als Waffen.

Word by Word

• ते: they
• ते: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• ताम्रवक्त्राः: having copper-colored faces
• ताम्रवक्त्राः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tāmra (ताम्र) + vaktra (वक्त्र)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (ताम्रं वक्त्रं येषाम्); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ते इति विशेषणम्

• हेमाभाः: golden-radiant
• हेमाभाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hema (हेम) + ābhā (आभा)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (हेमवत् आभा येषाम्); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• रामार्थे: for Rama's sake
• रामार्थे: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (राम) + artha (अर्थ)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: रामस्य अर्थः); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; प्रयोजन/हेतौ (for the sake of)

• त्यक्तजीविताः: having renounced their lives (ready to die)
• त्यक्तजीविताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tyakta (त्यक्त कृदन्त from tyaj त्यज्) + jīvita (जीवित)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (त्यक्तं जीवितं येषाम्); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• लङ्काम्: Lanka
• लङ्काम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: laṅkā (लङ्का प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha-sūcaka (सम्बन्धसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारणार्थक

• अभ्यवर्तन्त: they advanced toward/attacked
• अभ्यवर्तन्त: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√vṛt (अभि + वृत् धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• सालतालशिलायुधाः: whose weapons were sāla/tāla trees and rocks
• सालतालशिलायुधाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sāla (साल) + tāla (ताल) + śilā (शिला) + āyudha (आयुध)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (साल-ताल-शिला आयुधानि येषाम्); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Context

Vanaras of copper colour faces and golden coloured ones, dedicating their lives for the sake of Rama holding Sala trees and rocks went towards Lanka.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Laṅkā
• Vānaras
• Sāla tree

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown as self-sacrifice in a just struggle: willingness to risk life for the restoration of moral order and the rescue of the innocent.

What is the narrative situation?

The vānaras rush toward Laṅkā’s front, armed with trees and rocks, prepared for intense fighting.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Tyāga (self-offering) and unwavering loyalty to Rāma’s righteous mission.