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Shloka 55

लङ्कादाह-प्रचोदनं तथा वानर-राक्षस-समरारम्भः

The Burning of Lanka and the Outbreak of Battle

Devanagari script

पताकाध्वजसंसक्तमुत्तमासिपरश्वधम् ।भीमाश्वरथमातङ्गंनानापततिसमाकुलम् ।।।।दीप्तशूलगदाखडगप्रासतोमरकार्मुकम् ।तद्राक्षसबलंघोरभीमंविक्रमपौरुषम् ।।।।ददृशेज्वलितप्रासंकिङ्किणीशतनादितम् ।हेमजालाचितभुजंव्यावेष्टितपरश्वथम् ।।।।व्याघूर्णितमहाशस्त्रंबाणसंसक्तकार्मुकम् ।गन्धमाल्यमधूत्सेकसम्मोदितमहानिलम् ।।।।

Transliteration

patākādhvajasaṃsaktam uttamāsiparaśvadhām |

bhīmāśvarathamātaṅgaṃ nānāpatatisamākulam ||

dīptaśūlagadākhaḍgaprāsatomarakārmukam |

tad rākṣasabalaṃ ghoraṃ bhīmaṃ vikramapauruṣam ||

dadṛśe jvalitaprāsaṃ kiṅkiṇīśatanāditam |

hemajālācitabhujaṃ vyāveṣṭitaparaśvadhām ||

vyāghūrṇitamahāśastraṃ bāṇasaṃsaktakārmukam |

gandhamālyamadhūtsekasammoditam ahānilam ||

Translation

Da kam das Heer der Rākṣasas in Sicht—schrecklich und gewaltig—dicht von Fahnen und Standarten; bewaffnet mit erlesenen Schwertern und Äxten; erfüllt von furchtbaren Wagen, Rossen und Elefanten und wimmelnd von mancherlei Fußvolk. Es loderte von Dreizacken, Keulen, Schwertern, Speeren, Wurfspießen und Bögen; seine Krieger waren furchterregend an Tapferkeit und Kraft. Glänzende Geschosse waren zu sehen, und der Lärm von Hunderten Glöckchen hallte wider; goldgeschmückte Arme schwangen Äxte, gewaltige Waffen wirbelten, und die Bögen waren mit Pfeilen versehen—während ein starker Wind den Duft von Girlanden und Wohlgerüchen trug.

Word by Word
patākā-dhvaja-saṃsaktamadorned/attached with flags and banners
patākā-dhvaja-saṃsaktam:
Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootpatākā (प्रातिपदिक) + dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃsakta (संसज् धातोः क्त कृदन्त)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण तत्/बलम्; समासः—तत्पुरुष (patākā-dhvajaiḥ saṃsaktam = attached with flags and banners)
uttama-āsi-paraśvadhamwith excellent swords and axes
uttama-āsi-paraśvadham:
Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootuttama (प्रातिपदिक) + asi (प्रातिपदिक) + paraśvadha (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण बलम्; समासः—द्वन्द्व (asi + paraśvadha) with qualifier uttama
bhīma-aśva-ratha-mātaṅgamwith formidable horses, chariots, and elephants
bhīma-aśva-ratha-mātaṅgam:
Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootbhīma (प्रातिपदिक) + aśva (प्रातिपदिक) + ratha (प्रातिपदिक) + mātaṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण बलम्; समासः—द्वन्द्व (aśva+ratha+mātaṅga) with qualifier bhīma
nānā-patati-samākulamcrowded with various foot-soldiers
nānā-patati-samākulam:
Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootnānā (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + patati (प्रातिपदिक ‘foot-soldier/infantry’) + samākula (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण बलम्; समासः—तत्पुरुष (nānā-vidhaiḥ patatibhiḥ samākulam = crowded with various infantry)
dīpta-śūla-gadā-khaḍga-prāsa-tomara-kārmukamwith shining tridents, maces, swords, spears, lances, and bows
dīpta-śūla-gadā-khaḍga-prāsa-tomara-kārmukam:
Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootdīpta (दीप् धातोः क्त कृदन्त) + śūla+gadā+khaḍga+prāsa+tomara+kārmuka (प्रातिपदिकानि)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण बलम्; समासः—द्वन्द्व (weapons list) with qualifier dīpta (shining)
tatthat
tat:
Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
TypeNoun
Roottad (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अत्र द्वितीया—बलम् इत्यस्य विशेषण (that)
rākṣasa-balamRakshasa army
rākṣasa-balam:
Karma (कर्म/object)
TypeNoun
Rootrākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (rākṣasānām balam)
ghora-bhīmamterrific and dreadful
ghora-bhīmam:
Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootghora (प्रातिपदिक) + bhīma (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण बलम्; समासः—कर्मधारय
vikrama-pauruṣam(full of) valor and prowess
vikrama-pauruṣam:
Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootvikrama (प्रातिपदिक) + pauruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण बलम्; समासः—द्वन्द्व (vikrama + pauruṣa = valor and prowess)
dadṛśewas seen/appeared
dadṛśe:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootdṛś (धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद
jvalita-prāsamwith blazing spears
jvalita-prāsam:
Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootjvalita (ज्वल् धातोः क्त कृदन्त) + prāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण बलम्; समासः—कर्मधारय
kiṅkiṇī-śata-nāditamresounding with hundreds of bells
kiṅkiṇī-śata-nāditam:
Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootkiṅkiṇī (प्रातिपदिक) + śata (प्रातिपदिक) + nādita (नद् धातोः क्त कृदन्त)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण बलम्; समासः—तत्पुरुष (kiṅkiṇī-śataiḥ nāditam = resounding with hundreds of bells)
hema-jāla-ācita-bhujamwith arms adorned with gold-net (ornaments)
hema-jāla-ācita-bhujam:
Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Roothema (प्रातिपदिक) + jāla (प्रातिपदिक) + ācita (चि धातोः क्त कृदन्त) + bhuja (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण बलम्; समासः—तत्पुरुष (hema-jālena ācitāḥ bhujāḥ yasya = whose arms are adorned with a net of gold)
vyāveṣṭita-paraśvadhamequipped with axes
vyāveṣṭita-paraśvadham:
Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootvy-ā-√veṣṭ (धातु) क्त कृदन्त ‘vyāveṣṭita’ + paraśvadha (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण बलम्; समासः—तत्पुरुष (paraśvadhaiḥ vyāveṣṭitam = equipped/encircled with axes)
vyāghūrṇita-mahā-śastrambrandishing great weapons
vyāghūrṇita-mahā-śastram:
Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootvy-ā-√ghūrṇ (धातु) क्त कृदन्त ‘vyāghūrṇita’ + mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + śastra (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण बलम्; समासः—कर्मधारय (mahā-śastraṃ vyāghūrṇitam = brandishing great weapons)
bāṇa-saṃsakta-kārmukamwith bows fitted with arrows
bāṇa-saṃsakta-kārmukam:
Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootbāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃsakta (संसज् धातोः क्त) + kārmuka (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण बलम्; समासः—तत्पुरुष (bāṇaiḥ saṃsaktaṃ kārmukaṃ yasya = with bows fitted with arrows)
gandha-mālya-madhu-utseka-sammodita-mahā-anilamwith the great breeze made fragrant/joyful by perfumes, garlands, and abundant sweet scents
gandha-mālya-madhu-utseka-sammodita-mahā-anilam:
Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootgandha (प्रातिपदिक) + mālya (प्रातिपदिक) + madhu (प्रातिपदिक) + utseka (प्रातिपदिक) + sammodita (सम्+मुद् धातोः क्त) + mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + anila (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण बलम्; समासः—तत्पुरुष (gandha-mālya-madhu-utsekena sammoditaḥ mahān anilaḥ yasmin = where the great wind is gladdened/fragrant due to perfumes, garlands, and abundant honey/sweet offerings)
Context

Then the Rakshasa army appeared terrific, fixed with flags and poles, equipped with best of axes, horses yoked to formidable chariots and elephants different kinds of foot soldiers, distinguished by wielding shining tridents, maces, swords spears and lances warriors of frightening valour and prowess holding shining barbed missiles hundreds of tiny bells tied to the chariots and elephants making noise warriors endowed with arms decorated with gold, with axes and weapons to pierce arrows fixed to the bows, with an abundance of fragrance.

Characters & Entities
R
Rākṣasa army
C
chariots
H
horses
E
elephants
S
swords
B
bows
A
arrows
W
wind

FAQs

Dharma is contrasted with intimidation: the army’s terrifying display shows how power can be used to overwhelm. The Ramayana repeatedly implies that true righteousness is not mere might, but restrained and principled use of strength.

The narrator presents a detailed visual catalogue of the Rākṣasa forces—standards, troops, weapons, noise, and splendor—at the height of the night confrontation.

On the surface, martial prowess; ethically, the scene sets up the need for the opposing side’s steadiness and self-control—courage that does not collapse before spectacle.

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