Shloka 20

लङ्काद्वारव्यूहवर्णनम् / Disposition at the Gates of Lanka

Devanagari script

लङ्कायांसचिवैस्सर्वंरामायप्रत्यवेदयत् ।रामंकमलपत्राक्षमिदमुत्तरमब्रवीत् ।।।।रावणावरजःश्रीमान् रामप्रियचिकीर्षया ।

Transliteration

laṅkāyāṃ sacivaiḥ sarvaṃ rāmāya pratyavedayat | rāmaṃ kamalapatrākṣam idam uttaram abravīt | rāvaṇāvarajaḥ śrīmān rāmapriyacikīrṣayā |

Translation

El ilustre hermano menor de Rāvaṇa informó a Rāma de todo acerca de Laṅkā, según lo aprendido de los ministros. Luego, mirando a Rāma de ojos de loto y deseando hacer lo que le complaciera, pronunció esta respuesta ulterior.

Word by Word

• laṅkāyām: in Lanka
• laṅkāyām: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: laṅkā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (Loc), एकवचन

• sacivaiḥ: by ministers
• sacivaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saciva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन

• sarvam: everything
• sarvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (Acc), एकवचन; सर्वनामसदृश

• rāmāya: to Rama
• rāmāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी (Dative/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• pratyavedayat: reported; informed
• pratyavedayat: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-√vid (धातु) + णिच्
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिजन्त (causative: caused to be known/reported)

• rāmam: Rama
• rāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (Acc), एकवचन

• kamalapatrākṣam: lotus-petaled-eyed
• kamalapatrākṣam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kamala-patra-akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (Acc), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (yasya akṣī kamalapatrasadṛśe)

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (Acc), एकवचन

• uttaram: reply; answer
• uttaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (Acc), एकवचन

• abravīt: said; spoke
• abravīt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• rāvaṇāvarajaḥ: Ravana's younger brother
• rāvaṇāvarajaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa-avaraja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (Nom), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (rāvaṇasya avarajaḥ)

• śrīmān: illustrious
• śrīmān: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śrīmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (Nom), एकवचन; विशेषण

• rāmapriyacikīrṣayā: with the intention to please Rama
• rāmapriyacikīrṣayā: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma-priya-cikīrṣā (प्रातिपदिक; cikīrṣā = √kṛ (धातु) सन्-इच्छार्थक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया (Instrumental/हेतु), एकवचन; समास: तत्पुरुष (rāmasya priyaṃ kartum icchā)

Context

Again, Vibheeshana, the prosperous brother of Ravana, spoke to Rama everything about Lanka made known to him by the ministers. Vibheeshana looking at the lotus petal eyed Rama, intending to please Rama, spoke.

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāvaṇa
• Rāma
• Laṅkā
• ministers (saciva)

FAQs

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

Dharma as truthful counsel offered with benevolent intent: speech should be accurate (satya) and aimed at the good (hita/priya) of the righteous.

What is the narrative situation?

Vibhīṣaṇa formally briefs Rāma on Laṅkā based on ministerial information and continues his strategic counsel.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vibhīṣaṇa’s goodwill and conscientious diplomacy—he seeks Rāma’s welfare, not personal gain.