Shloka 66

लङ्कादाह-प्रचोदनं तथा वानर-राक्षस-समरारम्भः

The Burning of Lanka and the Outbreak of Battle

Devanagari script

घ्नन्तमन्यंजघानान्यःपातयन्तमपातयत् ।।।।गर्हमाणंजगर्हेऽन्योदशन्तमपरोऽदशत् ।

Transliteration

ghnantam anyaṃ jaghānānyaḥ pātayantam apātayat | garhamāṇaṃ jagarhe 'nyo daśantam aparo 'daśat ||

Translation

Einer, der schlug, wurde von einem anderen geschlagen; einer, der niederwarf, wurde niedergeworfen; einer, der schalt, wurde gescholten; und einer, der biss, wurde von einem anderen gebissen.

Word by Word

• ghnantam: one who was striking
• ghnantam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √han (धातु)
• Form: Vartamāna-kṛdanta (present active participle, शतृ), Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; object of jaghāna

• anyam: another
• anyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; qualifies ghnantam

• jaghāna: struck/killed
• jaghāna: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √han (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्; perfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana

• anyaḥ: another (one)
• anyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; subject of jaghāna

• pātayantam: one who was throwing down
• pātayantam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pat (धातु) causative √pātay (णिच्)
• Form: Vartamāna-kṛdanta (present active participle, शतृ), Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; 'one causing to fall'

• apātayat: threw down
• apātayat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pat (धातु) causative √pātay (णिच्) with apa-
• Form: Laṅ (लङ्; imperfect/past), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; apa+pātay = 'threw down'

• garhamāṇam: one who was reproaching
• garhamāṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √garh (धातु)
• Form: Vartamāna-kṛdanta (present middle participle, शानच्), Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; object of jagarhe

• jagarhe: reviled/reproached
• jagarhe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √garh (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्; perfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; ātmanepada

• anyaḥ: another (one)
• anyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; subject of jagarhe

• daśantam: one who was biting
• daśantam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √daś (धातु)
• Form: Vartamāna-kṛdanta (present active participle, शतृ), Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; object of adaśat

• aparaḥ: another (one)
• aparaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; subject of adaśat

• adaśat: bit
• adaśat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √daś (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ (लङ्; imperfect/past), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana

Context

One struck another, who was striking the other. One threw down another who was throwing the other. One abused another reproaching contemptuously, and one bit his rival biting the other.

Characters & Entities

• Vānaras
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

The verse depicts how conflict multiplies retaliation—violence and insult provoke immediate counteraction; dharma, by contrast, teaches restraint and the breaking of cycles of escalation when possible.

What is the narrative situation?

The battle devolves into chaotic hand-to-hand exchanges where each aggressive act is instantly met with a matching counterattack.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Endurance and quick response in combat; implicitly, it also warns against uncontrolled wrath (krodha) that fuels endless reprisal.