Shloka 16
लङ्काद्वारव्यूहवर्णनम् / Disposition at the Gates of Lanka
गजानांचसाहस्रंचरथानामयुतंपुरे ।हयानामयुतेद्वेचसाग्राकोटीचरक्षसाम् ।।।।विक्रान्ताबलवन्तश्चसंयुगेष्वाततायिनः ।इष्टाराक्षसराजस्यनित्यमेतेनिशाचराः ।।।।
gajānāṃ ca sāhasraṃ ca rathānām ayutaṃ pure | hayānām ayute dve ca sāgrā koṭī ca rakṣasām ||
vikrāntā balavantaś ca saṃyugeṣv ātatāyinaḥ | iṣṭā rākṣasarājasya nityam ete niśācarāḥ ||
En la ciudad había diez mil elefantes, diez mil carros y veinte mil caballos; y, además, más de un crore de Rākṣasas: valientes y fuertes, feroces en los combates. Estos moradores de la noche eran siempre queridos para el rey de los Rākṣasas.
"Elephant army of ten thousand, similarly ten thousand charioteers, horse riders in twenty thousand, more than a crore foot soldiers, mighty strong and valiant warriors, night ranger's beloved to Ravana, the king of Rakshasas were staying close and serving."
FAQs
The verse warns by implication: sheer numbers and strength do not establish righteousness; Dharma is measured by justice and restraint, not by military might.
A census-like description of Laṅkā’s military resources and the fighting character of Rāvaṇa’s forces.
Valor and strength (vīrya), presented as formidable but morally ambiguous without righteous ends.