Shloka 71

लङ्कादाह-प्रचोदनं तथा वानर-राक्षस-समरारम्भः

The Burning of Lanka and the Outbreak of Battle

Devanagari script

विस्रस्तकेशवसनंविध्वस्तकवचध्वजम् ।बलंराक्षसमालम्ब्यवानराःपर्यवारयन् ।।।।

Transliteration

visrasta-keśa-vasanaṃ vidhvasta-kavaca-dhvajam |

balaṃ rākṣasam ālambya vānarāḥ paryavārayan ||

Translation

Die Vānaras rückten zusammen und umringten das Rākṣasa-Heer — Haar und Gewand zerzaust, Panzer und Feldzeichen zerschmettert — und bedrängten es von allen Seiten.

Word by Word

• visrasta-keśa-vasanam: with hair and garments fallen/disheveled
• visrasta-keśa-vasanam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: visrasta (कृदन्त; √sras/स्रस् with vi) + keśa (प्रातिपदिक) + vasana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (keśa-vasanaṃ visrastam yasya/tat)

• vidhvasta-kavaca-dhvajam: with armor and standards shattered
• vidhvasta-kavaca-dhvajam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vidhvasta (कृदन्त; √dhvaṃs/ध्वंस् with vi) + kavaca (प्रातिपदिक) + dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (kavaca-dhvajaḥ vidhvastaḥ yasya/tat)

• balam: army/force
• balam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• rākṣasam: rākṣasa (belonging to the rākṣasas)
• rākṣasam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग-समर्थ्ये, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (balam)

• ālambya: having attacked/seized
• ālambya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √lamb (धातु) with ā- (आलम्ब्य)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘having seized/assailed’

• vānarāḥ: the monkeys
• vānarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• paryavārayan: surrounded
• paryavārayan: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛ (धातु) with pari-ā-
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

The Vanaras surrounded the disturbed Rakshasas, whose hair was ripped off, raiment slipped off, shields and staff posts thrown.।। इत्यार्षेवाल्मीकीयेश्रीमद्रामाणयेआदिकाव्येयुद्धकाण्डेपञ्चसप्ततितमस्सर्गः ।।This is the end of the seventy fifth sarga of Yuddha Kanda of the first epic the holy Ramayana composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Vānara
• Rākṣasa (army/host)

FAQs

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

Dharma here appears as disciplined collective action: the vānaras act in unity and strategic coordination rather than in chaotic vengeance, reflecting ordered conduct even amid violence.

What is the narrative situation?

At the end of the sarga’s battle description, the rākṣasa forces are shown as disordered and pressured, while the vānaras gain advantage by encirclement.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Teamwork and tactical resolve: the vānaras demonstrate coordinated effort and persistence in pressing the enemy.