Shloka 33

युद्धकाण्डे एकोनषष्टितमः सर्गः

Rāvaṇa’s Assault on Nīla and Lakṣmaṇa; Hanumān Bears Rāma

Devanagari script

ततःसरक्षोधिपतिर्महात्मारक्षांसितान्याहमहाबलानि ।द्वारेषुचर्यागृहगोपुरेषुसुनिर्वृतास्तिष्ठतनिर्विशङ्काः ।।6.59.33।।

Transliteration

tataḥ sa rakṣodhipatir mahātmā rakṣāṃsi tāny āha mahābalāni | dvāreṣu caryāgṛha-gopureṣu sunirvṛtās tiṣṭhata nirviśaṅkāḥ ||6.59.33||

Translation

Da sprach der großherzige Herr der Rākṣasas zu jenen mächtigen Rākṣasas: „Steht auf Posten—ruhig und ohne Furcht—an den Toren, bei den Wachhäusern und auf den Stadttürmen entlang der Hauptstraßen.“

Word by Word

tataḥthen

saḥhe

rakṣaḥ-adhipatiḥlord of the Rakshasas

mahātmāgreat-souled

rakṣāṃsiRakshasas (troops)

tānithose

āhasaid

mahābalānivery strong

dvāreṣuat the gates

caryā-gṛha-gopureṣuin patrol-posts, houses, and gate-towers

sunirvṛtāḥfully at ease, well-prepared

tiṣṭhatastand, stay posted

nirviśaṅkāḥwithout fear, unapprehensive

Context

There upon the great soul, the king of Rakshasas thus spoke to the strong army of Rakshasas, "Fully complacent, free from any apprehension be stationed at the gates and the buildings of the four main streets."

Characters & Entities

Rāvaṇa

Rākṣasas

Laṅkā (implied city defenses)

FAQs

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

Role-based duty: even in an unrighteous cause, the verse shows the idea of svadharma as disciplined execution of one’s assigned responsibility (guarding the city).

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa issues defensive orders to secure Laṅkā’s gates and key urban positions while the battle pressure increases.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Organizational command and vigilance (though employed for adharma), highlighting the power of disciplined coordination in crisis.