Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 39, Shloka 20

लङ्कादर्शनम्

Viewing Laṅkā and its Forest-Gardens

Devanagari script

निविष्टातत्रशिखरेलङ्कारावणपालिता ।।6.39.20।।शतयोजनविस्तीर्णात्रिंशद्योजनमायता ।

Transliteration

niviṣṭā tatra śikhare laṅkā rāvaṇa-pālitā |

śatayojana-vistīrṇā triṃśad-yojanam āyatā ||6.39.20||

Translation

There, upon that peak, lay Laṅkā, ruled by Rāvaṇa—spanning a hundred yojanas in breadth and thirty yojanas in length.

Word by Word

• niviṣṭā: situated, established
• niviṣṭā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ni- (उपसर्ग) + √viś (धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; कृदन्त-भूतकृदन्त (क्त) √viś (विश्) → निविष्टा

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• śikhare: on the peak
• śikhare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śikhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन (locative singular)

• laṅkā: Lanka
• laṅkā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: laṅkā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• rāvaṇa-pālitā: ruled/protected by Ravana
• rāvaṇa-pālitā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + pālita (कृदन्त, √pāl)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; कृदन्त-भूतकृदन्त (क्त) √pāl (पाल्) → पालित; तत्पुरुषः (रावणेन पालिता)

• śata-yojana-vistīrṇā: a hundred yojanas wide
• śata-yojana-vistīrṇā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक) + yojana (प्रातिपदिक) + vistīrṇa (कृदन्त, √stṛ)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; कृदन्त-भूतकृदन्त (क्त) √stṛ → विस्तीर्ण; समासः (शतयोजनानां विस्तीर्णा)

• triṃśat-yojanam: thirty yojanas
• triṃśat-yojanam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/प्रमाण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: triṃśat (संख्याप्रातिपदिक) + yojana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (त्रिंशद् योजने प्रमाणम्)

• āyatā: long, extended
• āyatā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āyata (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त from √yam)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

Context

They were amazed to see the even terrain, beautiful and expansive, long, and continuous sanctuary lovely to look at being a feast to the eyes.

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

It contrasts political power with moral legitimacy: Laṅkā is vast and formidable, yet its ruler’s adharma is what necessitates the dharmic response led by Rāma’s side.

What is the narrative situation?

The text locates and measures Laṅkā on the mountain peak, emphasizing the scale of the enemy capital before the decisive confrontations.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Implied strategic clarity: describing the city’s position and size supports deliberate, informed action rather than impulsive violence.