Shloka 12

लङ्कादाह-प्रचोदनं तथा वानर-राक्षस-समरारम्भः

The Burning of Lanka and the Outbreak of Battle

Devanagari script

रोमजंवालजंचर्मव्याघ्रजंचण्डजंबहु ।।।।मुक्तामणिविचित्रांश्चप्रासादांश्चसमन्ततः ।विविधानस्त्रसंयोगानग्निर्दहतितत्रवै ।।।।

Transliteration

romajaṃ vālajaṃ carma vyāghrajaṃ caṇḍajaṃ bahu | muktāmaṇivicitrāṃś ca prāsādāṃś ca samantataḥ ||

Translation

Ringsum lagen viele Güter: Decken aus Haar, Schweifwedel, Tigerfelle, Moschus und Paläste, mit Perlen und Edelsteinen geschmückt—vom sich ausbreitenden Brand ergriffen.

Word by Word

• romajam: made of hair
• romajam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: roma (प्रातिपदिक) + ja (प्रत्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular; समासः (तत्पुरुष) "रोमात् जातम्"

• vālajam: made of tail-hair/fur
• vālajam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāla (प्रातिपदिक) + ja (प्रत्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular; समासः (तत्पुरुष)

• carma: hide/skin
• carma: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: carma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• vyāghrajam: made of tiger-skin
• vyāghrajam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vyāghra (प्रातिपदिक) + ja (प्रत्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular; समासः (तत्पुरुष)

• caṇḍajam: made of musk/strong-scented (item)
• caṇḍajam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: caṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + ja (प्रत्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular; समासः (तत्पुरुष)

• bahu: many/much
• bahu: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः/collective); Neuter, Accusative, Singular; विशेषणम्

• muktā-maṇi-vicitrān: variegated with pearls and gems
• muktā-maṇi-vicitrān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: muktā (प्रातिपदिक) + maṇi (प्रातिपदिक) + vicitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Accusative, Plural; विशेषणम् (प्रासादान्)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• prāsādān: mansions/palaces
• prāsādān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāsāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• samantataḥ: all around
• samantataḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samantataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/परिमाणवाचक-अव्यय; adverb "on all sides"

• vividhān: various
• vividhān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vividha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Accusative, Plural; विशेषणम् (अस्त्रसंयोगान्)

• astra-saṃyogān: collections of weapons
• astra-saṃyogān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: astra (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃyoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Accusative, Plural; समासः (तत्पुरुष)

• agniḥ: fire
• agniḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• dahati: burns
• dahati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dah (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Present, Active, 3rd person singular

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; emphatic particle

Context

With fire all over, rugs made of hair of animals, whisks made of fur of animals, tiger skins, musk, wonderful pearls, and gems in laid dwellings of many kinds, and clusters of war weapons were burnt.

Characters & Entities

• Fire (implied in continuation)
• Pearls (muktā)
• Gems (maṇi)
• Prāsāda (mansions)

FAQs

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

Attachment to luxury is shown as fragile; when adharma ripens into calamity, wealth and display offer no refuge—dharma is the true protection.

What is the narrative situation?

A scene of widespread burning/destruction is described, consuming riches and residences.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral discernment—seeing the limits of material splendor in the face of ethical consequence.