Shloka 11

रावणस्यात्मप्रशंसा लङ्कावर्णनं च

Ravana’s Self-Praise and the Description of Lanka

Devanagari script

प्राकारेण परिक्षिप्ता पाण्डुरेण विराजता।हेमकक्ष्या पुरी रम्या वैढूर्यमयतोरणा।।।।

Transliteration

prākāreṇa parikṣiptā pāṇḍureṇa virājatā | hemakakṣyā purī ramyā vaiḍūryamayatoraṇā ||

Translation

La hermosa ciudad resplandece, cercada por murallas de blanco pálido; sus recintos interiores son de oro, y sus puertas están engastadas con gemas vaiḍūrya.

Word by Word

• prākāreṇa: with a rampart
• prākāreṇa: Karana (करण; by/with rampart)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prākāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• parikṣiptā: surrounded
• parikṣiptā: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari+kṣip (क्षिप् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण of purī

• pāṇḍureṇa: by/with pale-white
• pāṇḍureṇa: Karana (करण; with pale-white [rampart])
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāṇḍura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; वर्णविशेषण

• virājatā: shining
• virājatā: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi+rāj (राज् धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle), तृतीया, एकवचन; agrees with prākāreṇa (instrumental)

• hema-kakṣyā: having golden enclosures/terraces
• hema-kakṣyā: Visheshana (विशेषण of purī)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hema (प्रातिपदिक) + kakṣyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (हेममयी कक्ष्या यस्याः)

• purī: city
• purī: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ramyā: beautiful
• ramyā: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ramya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण of purī

• vaiḍhūrya-maya-toraṇā: with gates made of vaidurya
• vaiḍhūrya-maya-toraṇā: Visheshana (विशेषण of purī)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vaiḍhūrya (प्रातिपदिक) + maya (प्रातिपदिक) + toraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (वैढूर्यमयम् तोरणम् यस्याः)

Context

The beautiful city of Lanka shines with its pale white ramparts and golden interiors. The entrance gates are encrusted with vaidurya (cat'seye).

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā
• vaiḍūrya (cat’s-eye gem)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights worldly splendor used as temptation; the dharmic lesson is that external luxury is not a reliable measure of righteousness and should not override fidelity and right conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa, having approached Sītā, begins to entice her by describing the magnificence of Laṅkā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast (implicitly), Sītā’s steadfastness is tested—her virtue is fidelity and unwavering adherence to dharma despite alluring displays.