Shloka 61

लङ्कादाह-प्रचोदनं तथा वानर-राक्षस-समरारम्भः

The Burning of Lanka and the Outbreak of Battle

Devanagari script

तेषांभुजपरामर्शव्यामृष्टपरिघाशनि ।।।।राक्षसानांबलंश्रेष्ठंभूयस्तरमशोभत ।

Transliteration

teṣāṃ bhujaparāmarśavyāmṛṣṭaparighāśani | rākṣasānāṃ balaṃ śreṣṭhaṃ bhūyastaram aśobhata ||

Translation

Als die Rākṣasas mit mächtigen Armen ihre Keulen und blitzgleichen Waffen rieben und schwangen, erstrahlte ihr vornehmstes Heer umso glänzender.

Word by Word

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana; 'of them' (context: rākṣasānām)

• bhuja-parāmarśa-vyāmṛṣṭa-parigha-aśani: with clubs and thunderbolts brandished by arm-rubbing
• bhuja-parāmarśa-vyāmṛṣṭa-parigha-aśani: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhuja (प्रातिपदिक) + parāmarśa (प्रातिपदिक) + vyāmṛṣṭa (कृदन्त; vi+ā+√mṛś/मृश् 'to touch/rub'; past participle) + parigha (प्रातिपदिक) + aśani (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; bahupada tatpuruṣa describing balam: 'whose clubs and thunderbolts were rubbed/brandished by arm-contact'

• rākṣasānām: of the Rakshasas
• rākṣasānām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana

• balam: army
• balam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; subject of aśobhata

• śreṣṭham: excellent/foremost
• śreṣṭham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; qualifies balam

• bhūyas-taram: more exceedingly
• bhūyas-taram: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhūyas (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक used adverbially) + tara (प्रत्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; comparative adverb (क्रियाविशेषण): 'more, to a greater extent'

• aśobhata: shone/appeared splendid
• aśobhata: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śubh (धातु) with ā-
• Form: Laṅ (लङ्; imperfect/past), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; ātmanepada usage: 'shone/appeared splendid'

Context

Their Clubs and Asanis brandished by rubbing with their arms, the great army of Rakshasas appeared very bright.

Characters & Entities

• Rākṣasas
• parigha (club)
• aśani (thunderbolt-like weapon)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the disciplined preparedness of an army—strength is not only physical but also expressed through order, readiness, and resolve; in the Ramayana’s ethical frame, power becomes morally significant depending on whose cause it serves.

What is the narrative situation?

On the battlefield in Laṅkā, the Rākṣasa troops surge forward, visibly energized as they brandish weapons, making their ranks appear even more formidable.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Martial resolve and readiness for battle (śaurya/utsāha), shown collectively by the Rākṣasa host.