Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 2, Shloka 28

लङ्कादर्शनं तथा रात्रौ सूक्ष्मरूपेण प्रवेशोपायचिन्तनम्

Vision of Lanka and Strategy for Nocturnal Entry

Devanagari script

इमां तु विषमां दुर्गां लङ्कां रावणपालिताम्।प्राप्यापि स महाबाहुः किं करिष्यति राघवः।।।।

Transliteration

imāṃ tu viṣamāṃ durgāṃ laṅkāṃ rāvaṇapālitām | prāpyāpi sa mahābāhuḥ kiṃ kariṣyati rāghavaḥ ||

Translation

Aun si el de poderosos brazos, Rāghava, alcanzara esta Laṅkā peligrosa e inexpugnable, guardada bajo el dominio de Rāvaṇa, ¿qué podría lograr aquí?

Word by Word

• imām: this
• imām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; particle

• viṣamām: difficult/uneven
• viṣamām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viṣama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; qualifies laṅkām

• durgām: fortified/formidable
• durgām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; qualifies laṅkām

• laṅkām: Lanka
• laṅkām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: laṅkā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• rāvaṇa-pālitām: ruled by Ravana
• rāvaṇa-pālitām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + pālita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; pāl धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः 'रावणेन पालिता' (ruled/guarded by Ravana)

• prāpya: having reached
• prāpya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + āp (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त absolutive; 'having reached'

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; particle

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• mahā-bāhuḥ: the mighty-armed one
• mahā-bāhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः 'महान्तौ बाहू यस्य' (one who has great arms)

• kim: what
• kim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; interrogative used adverbially

• kariṣyati: will do
• kariṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (simple future), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• rāghavaḥ: Raghava (Rama)
• rāghavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; apposition to saḥ/mahābāhuḥ

Context

'What will Rama the mighty armed hero do even after reaching this formidable city of Lanka ruled by Ravana?

Characters & Entities

• Lanka
• Ravana
• Rama (Rāghava)

FAQs

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

Truthful appraisal (satya) in service of dharma: devotion must be paired with realism, so that righteous goals are pursued wisely.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanuman contemplates the formidable defenses of Lanka and the challenge even Rama would face if relying on direct entry and battle.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Responsible counsel-in-thought: Hanuman’s loyalty includes anticipating obstacles and planning to reduce harm and risk.