Shloka 21

प्रहस्तनिर्याणम्

Prahasta’s Departure and the Muster of the Rakshasa Host

Devanagari script

साबभूवमुहूर्तेननिग्मर्नानाविधायुधैः ।लङ्काराक्षसवीरैस्तैर्गजैरिवसमाकुला ।।।।

Transliteration

sā babhūva muhūrtena nighnan nānā-vidhāyudhaiḥ |

laṅkā rākṣasa-vīrais tair gajair iva samākulā ||

Translation

In kurzer Zeit wurde Laṅkā von jenen Rākṣasa-Helden erfüllt, mit mancherlei Waffen bewaffnet, wie ein Ort, der von Elefanten wimmelt.

Word by Word

• सा: she/that (Lanka)
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; लङ्का इत्यस्य निर्देश

• बभूव: became/was
• बभूव: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मुहूर्तेन: in a short while
• मुहूर्तेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muhūrta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; काल-करण (within a short time)

• निघ्नन्: striking/brandishing (lit. ‘slaying’)
• निघ्नन्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: han (धातु; ni-√han)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; implied agent (they) / descriptive

• नानाविधायुधैः: with various kinds of weapons
• नानाविधायुधैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nānā + vidha + āyudha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाससमूह (नानाविधानि आयुधानि), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• लङ्का: Lanka
• लङ्का: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: laṅkā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सा इत्यस्य विशेष्य

• राक्षसवीरैः: by Rakshasa heroes/warriors
• राक्षसवीरैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa + vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (rākṣasānāṃ vīraiḥ), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• तैः: by those
• तैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; राक्षसवीरैः इत्यस्य पुनर्निर्देश

• गजैः: elephants
• गजैः: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; उपमान (standard of comparison)

• इव: like
• इव: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमाद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (simile particle)

• समाकुला: crowded, filled
• समाकुला: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samākula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; लङ्का इति विशेषण

Context

As soon as the commander in chief ordered in that way, the Rakshasa troops mobilized in the abode of Rakshasas.

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā
• Rākṣasa warriors
• weapons (āyudha)
• elephants (gaja) (simile)

FAQs

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

The verse is descriptive, but it supports the epic’s moral frame: adharma can gather immense force, yet sheer mass and weaponry are not substitutes for righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

The mobilization rapidly fills Laṅkā with armed Rākṣasa fighters.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Martial readiness and collective discipline (though morally neutral without a righteous aim).