Shloka 6.37.38

लङ्काद्वारव्यूहवर्णनम् / Disposition at the Gates of Lanka

Devanagari script

ततस्तुरामोमहताबलेनप्रच्छाद्यसर्वांपृथिवींमहात्मा ।प्रहृष्टरूपोऽभिजगामलङ्कांकृत्वामतिंसोऽरिवधेमहात्मा ।।।।

Transliteration

kārya-siddhiṃ puraskṛtya mantrayadhvaṃ vinirṇaye | nityaṃ sannihito hy atra rāvaṇo rākṣasādhipaḥ ||

Translation

“Keeping the success of our mission foremost, deliberate and decide your course of duty. For Rāvaṇa, lord of the rākṣasas, is ever present here.”

Context

Thereafter great Rama with the army spread all over the ground, felt happy at heart, and resolved to succeed went up to Lanka.।। ityārṣēvālmīkīyēśrīmadrāmāyaṇēādikāvyēyuddhakāṇḍēsaptatriṅśassargaḥ ।।This is the end of the thirty seventh sarga of Yuddha Kanda of the first epic the holy Ramayana composed by Sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Dharma is duty guided by counsel: righteous action should be preceded by thoughtful deliberation aimed at just success, not rashness.

What is the narrative situation?

At Laṅkā’s threshold, the leadership is urged to confer and decide roles and actions, acknowledging the enemy’s constant readiness.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Responsible leadership—Rāma emphasizes planning, shared counsel, and clarity of duty.