Shloka 53

लङ्कादाह-प्रचोदनं तथा वानर-राक्षस-समरारम्भः

The Burning of Lanka and the Outbreak of Battle

Devanagari script

चन्द्राभाभूषणाभा च गृहाणांसागरःपुनः ।हरिराक्षससैन्यानिभ्राजयामाससर्वतः ।।।।

Transliteration

candrābhā bhūṣaṇābhā ca gṛhāṇāṃ sāgaraḥ punaḥ | harirākṣasasainyāni bhrājayāmāsa sarvataḥ ||

Translation

Mondschein und Schmuckglanz, und wiederum das Leuchten des Ozeans und der Wohnstätten, ließen die Heere der Vānaras und Rākṣasas überall erglänzen.

Word by Word

• candrābhā: moonlight
• candrābhā: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: candra (प्रातिपदिक) + ābhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (candrasya ābhā = moonlight)

• bhūṣaṇābhā: splendor of ornaments
• bhūṣaṇābhā: Karta (कर्ता/subject; coordinated)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ābhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (bhūṣaṇānām ābhā = ornament-splendor)

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

• gṛhāṇām: of the houses/dwellings
• gṛhāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• sāgaraḥ: the ocean
• sāgaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāgara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरावृत्तिवाचक-अव्यय

• hari-rākṣasa-sainyāni: the monkey and Rakshasa armies
• hari-rākṣasa-sainyāni: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक) + rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक) + sainya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (hari-rākṣasayoḥ sainyāni = the armies of monkeys and Rakshasas; sense near द्वन्द्व but form as determinative)

• bhrājayāmāsa: made (them) shine/illuminated
• bhrājayāmāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhraj (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रेरण (causative) + लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• sarvataḥ: everywhere
• sarvataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/place/manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: दिक्/व्याप्तिवाचक-अव्यय (on all sides/everywhere)

Context

The moon light and the splendour of the ornaments, also the light of shining ocean and dwellings lit up the Vanara and Rakshasa armies.

Characters & Entities

• moon
• ocean (around Laṅkā implied)
• Vanara army
• Rākṣasa army

FAQs

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

Dharma here is implied through visibility and order: the scene is fully lit, suggesting that deeds in war remain exposed to judgment—by society (dwellings), nature (ocean), and the heavens (moon).

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator describes how multiple light sources (moon, ornaments, ocean, buildings) illuminate both armies across the battlefield near Laṅkā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Collective vigilance: both sides are portrayed as fully ‘seen,’ supporting the epic’s stress on responsibility for one’s actions.