Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 42, Shloka 36

लङ्काप्राकारारोहणम् / Assault on Lanka’s Ramparts and the Opening Clash

Devanagari script

तेबभुःशुभनीलाङ्गाःसशङ्खारजनीचराः ।विद्युन्मण्डलसन्नद्धाःसबलाकाइवाम्बुदाः ।।।।

Transliteration

te babhuḥ śubhanīlāṅgāḥ saśaṅkhā rajanīcarāḥ | vidyunmaṇḍalasannaddhāḥ sabalākā ivāmbudāḥ ||

Translation

Those night-rangers, dark-blue of limb and gleaming, bearing conches, appeared like clouds girt with rings of lightning—like rain-clouds accompanied by cranes.

Word by Word

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; English: 'they/those'

• babhuḥ: appeared
• babhuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; English: 'became/appeared'

• śubha-nīla-aṅgāḥ: dark-limbed
• śubha-nīla-aṅgāḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक) + nīla (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; English: 'having auspicious dark-blue limbs'

• sa-śaṅkhāḥ: with conches
• sa-śaṅkhāḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (सह/स- उपसर्गवत्) + śaṅkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; English: 'with conches'

• rajanīcarāḥ: night-rangers
• rajanīcarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rajanīcara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; English: 'night-rangers (Rakshasas)'

• vidyun-maṇḍala-sannaddhāḥ: lightning-clad
• vidyun-maṇḍala-sannaddhāḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vidyut (प्रातिपदिक) + maṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक) + sannaddha (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; PPP sannaddha; English: 'armoured with circles/flashes of lightning'

• sa-balākāḥ: with herons
• sa-balākāḥ: Upamāna-viśeṣaṇa (उपमान-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (स- उपसर्गवत्) + balākā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; English: 'with herons/cranes'

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक-अव्यय; English: 'like/as'

• ambudāḥ: clouds
• ambudāḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ambuda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; English: 'clouds'

Context

The night rangers with their brilliant dark limbs, with conchs, were like dark clouds provided with armour with flashes of lightning and accompanied by herons.

Characters & Entities

• Rajanīcara (Rākṣasas)
• Conches (śaṅkha)
• Lightning (vidyut)
• Clouds (ambuda)
• Balākā (cranes/herons)

FAQs

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

The verse cautions that splendor and terrifying appearance are not proofs of dharma; ethical judgment rests on satya and right action, not on outward might.

What is the narrative situation?

The mobilized Rākṣasas are poetically described as storm-clouds with lightning, intensifying the battlefield mood.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discernment—seeing beyond appearances to evaluate what is truly righteous.