Shloka 57

लङ्कादाह-प्रचोदनं तथा वानर-राक्षस-समरारम्भः

The Burning of Lanka and the Outbreak of Battle

Devanagari script

पताकाध्वजसंसक्तमुत्तमासिपरश्वधम् ।भीमाश्वरथमातङ्गंनानापततिसमाकुलम् ।।6.75.55।।दीप्तशूलगदाखडगप्रासतोमरकार्मुकम् ।तद्राक्षसबलंघोरभीमंविक्रमपौरुषम् ।।6.75.56।।ददृशेज्वलितप्रासंकिङ्किणीशतनादितम् ।हेमजालाचितभुजंव्यावेष्टितपरश्वथम् ।।6.75.57।।व्याघूर्णितमहाशस्त्रंबाणसंसक्तकार्मुकम् ।गन्धमाल्यमधूत्सेकसम्मोदितमहानिलम् ।।6.75.58।।

Transliteration

javenāphlutya ca punas tad balaṃ rakṣasāṃ mahat | abhyayāt pratyaribalaṃ pataṅgā iva pāvakam ||

Translation

Da sprang das große Heer der Rākṣasas in raschem Anlauf vor und stürzte sich auf das feindliche Heer—wie Motten, die in die Flamme fliegen.

Word by Word

• दीप्त-शूल-गदा-खड्ग-प्रास-तोमर-कार्मुकम्: (army) with shining tridents, maces, swords, spears, lances, and bows
• दीप्त-शूल-गदा-खड्ग-प्रास-तोमर-कार्मुकम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीप्त (कृदन्त, √दीप्) + शूल (प्रातिपदिक) + गदा (प्रातिपदिक) + खड्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रास (प्रातिपदिक) + तोमर (प्रातिपदिक) + कार्मुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समाहार (weapons as a set) with qualifier दीप्त; qualifying राक्षसबलम्

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; demonstrative qualifying राक्षसबलम्

• राक्षस-बलम्: Rakshasa army
• राक्षस-बलम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'राक्षसानां बलम्'

• घोर-भीमम्: terrific and dreadful
• घोर-भीमम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक) + भीम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय qualifying राक्षसबलम्

• विक्रम-पौरुषम्: valour and manly prowess
• विक्रम-पौरुषम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विक्रम (प्रातिपदिक) + पौरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व (विक्रमं च पौरुषं च) qualifying the army as possessing prowess

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

• Rākṣasa army
• fire (pāvaka)

FAQs

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

The simile suggests the self-destructive pull of adharma: reckless aggression, driven by delusion, rushes into ruin like moths into fire—implying dharma requires discernment and restraint.

What is the narrative situation?

The Rākṣasas charge swiftly into the opposing ranks; the narrator characterizes their assault with a vivid image of insects drawn to flame.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast, the implied virtue is viveka (discernment): the verse warns against impulsive force and praises the wisdom to avoid fatal attraction to destruction.