Shloka 32

प्रहस्तनिर्याणम्

Prahasta’s Departure and the Muster of the Rakshasa Host

Devanagari script

व्यूढेनेवसुघोरेणपूर्वद्वारात्सनिर्ययौ ।।।।गजयूथनिकाशेनबलेनमहतावृतः ।

Transliteration

vyūḍhena iva sughoreṇa pūrva-dvārāt sa niryayau |

gaja-yūtha-nikāśena balena mahatā vṛtaḥ ||6.57.32||

Translation

Er trat durch das Osttor hinaus, umgeben von einer gewaltigen Streitmacht, düster und in furchtbarer Schlachtordnung, einem Elefantenherdenzug gleich.

Word by Word

• व्यूढेन: arrayed/formed (in battle order)
• व्यूढेन: करण-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यूढ (प्रातिपदिक; व्यूह्/वह् धातु + क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् बलेन प्रति; 'व्यूढेन' = arranged (in battle-array)

• इव: as if
• इव: उपमान-निर्देशक
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय

• सुघोरेण: very formidable
• सुघोरेण: करण-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् बलेन प्रति

• पूर्वद्वारात्: from the eastern gate
• पूर्वद्वारात्: अपादान (source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्व-द्वार (प्रातिपदिक; पूर्व + द्वार)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• निर्ययौ: went out
• निर्ययौ: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्-या (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• गजयूथनिकाशेन: like a herd of elephants
• गजयूथनिकाशेन: करण-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गज-यूथ-निकाश (प्रातिपदिक; गजः+यूथम्+निकाश)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; उपमानार्थे: 'गजयूथस्य निकाशः (सदृशः)' (resembling a herd of elephants)

• बलेन: with an army
• बलेन: करण/सहकारक
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• महता: great
• महता: करण-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् बलेन प्रति

• वृतः: surrounded
• वृतः: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषणम्

Context

He, emerged from the eastern gate, surrounded by a huge, formidable army formed into a battlearray, which resembled a herd of elephants.

Characters & Entities

• Prahastha
• Lanka (eastern gate)
• army (bala)

FAQs

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

The verse depicts orderly deployment—an aspect of organizational duty. The Ramayana’s dharmic teaching here is indirect: power and order, though impressive, must be governed by satya; otherwise they magnify harm.

What is the narrative situation?

Prahastha’s army exits Lanka through the eastern gate in a terrifying battle formation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Operational discipline and strategic arrangement (battle readiness).