Shloka 8

लङ्कादुर्गवर्णनम्

Description of Lanka’s Fortifications and Forces

Devanagari script

राक्षसाश्चयथास्निग्धारावणस्यचतेजसा ।परांसमृद्धिंलङ्कायास्सागरस्यचभीमताम् ।।।।विभागंचबलौघस्यनिर्देशंवाहनस्यच ।एवमुक्त्वाकपिश्रेष्ठःकथयामासतत्त्ववित: ।।।।

Transliteration

rākṣasāś ca yathā snigdhā rāvaṇasya ca tejasā |

parāṃ samṛddhiṃ laṅkāyāḥ sāgarasya ca bhīmatām ||6.3.8||

Translation

Relataré cómo los rākṣasas son devotos de Rāvaṇa, cómo su poder los somete; la suprema prosperidad de Laṅkā y el carácter terrible del océano.

Word by Word

• vakuḷān: vakula trees
• vakuḷān: Karma (कर्म; object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vakuḷa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tilakān: tilaka trees
• tilakān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tilaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• cūtān: mango trees
• cūtān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• aśokān: aśoka trees
• aśokān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśoka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sindhuvārakān: sindhuvāra plants/trees
• sindhuvārakān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sindhuvāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• karavīrān: karavīra (oleander) plants
• karavīrān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karavīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• tiniśān: tiniśa trees
• tiniśān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tiniśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• bhajanti: they resort to/enjoy
• bhajanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhaj (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sma: (past narrative marker)
• sma: Kriyā-prayoga-nirdeśaka (क्रियाप्रयोगनिर्देशक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sma (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (स्म-अव्यय) marking past/narrative emphasis

• plavaṅgagamāḥ: the Vānaras
• plavaṅgagamāḥ: Karta (कर्ता; subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: plavaṅga + gama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); उपपद-तत्पुरुष: plavaṅgā iva gacchanti ‘those who move by leaping’ = monkeys

Context

Thereafter, the spies reported to the king of Lanka that Raghava had camped with an unshakable army at the Suvela mountain.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Rākṣasas
• Lankā
• Ocean (Sāgara)

FAQs

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

Dharma requires clear-eyed assessment of opposing power—truthful recognition of strengths and risks prevents reckless harm.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanuman previews key points of his intelligence report: Ravana’s influence, Lanka’s wealth, and the formidable ocean barrier.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discernment—Hanuman reports realities without exaggeration, aiding righteous strategy.