Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 39, Shloka 29

लङ्कादर्शनम्

Viewing Laṅkā and its Forest-Gardens

Devanagari script

तांरत्नपूर्णांबहुसंविधानांप्रासादमालाभिरलङ्कृतांच ।पुरींमहायन्त्रकवाटमुख्यांददर्शरामोमहताबलेन ।।6.39.29।।

Transliteration

tāṃ ratna-pūrṇāṃ bahu-saṃvidhānāṃ prāsāda-mālābhir alaṅkṛtāṃ ca |

purīṃ mahāyantra-kavāṭa-mukhyāṃ dadarśa rāmo mahatā balena ||6.39.29||

Translation

Con su gran hueste, Rāma contempló aquella ciudad: colmada de joyas, dispuesta con rica variedad, adornada con hileras de palacios y señalada por enormes puertas provistas de temibles ingenios de guerra.

Word by Word

• ताम्: that (city)
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• रत्नपूर्णाम्: filled with jewels
• रत्नपूर्णाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत्न + पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः षष्ठी/तत्पुरुष-भावः (रत्नैः पूर्णा)

• बहुसंविधानाम्: having many arrangements/structures
• बहुसंविधानाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु + संविधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः तत्पुरुष (बहूनि संविधानानि यस्याम्)

• प्रासादमालाभिः: with rows/garlands of palaces
• प्रासादमालाभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रासाद + माला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (प्रासादानां माला)

• अलङ्कृताम्: adorned
• अलङ्कृताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अलङ्कृ (धातु) → अलङ्कृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), कर्मणि/भावे; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पुरीम्: city
• पुरीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महायन्त्रकवाटमुख्याम्: whose chief gates had huge war-machines
• महायन्त्रकवाटमुख्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + यन्त्र + कवाट + मुख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (महायन्त्रैः युक्तानि कवाटानि मुख्यानि यस्याम्)

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• महता: with great
• महता: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (बलेन इति सह)

• बलेन: by/with (his) force/army
• बलेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

Context

Prosperous Rama, brother of Lakshmana along with Vanaras saw different kinds of forests, mountains filled with different kinds of minerals, delightful gardens endowed with different varieties of flowers, charming birds singing happily, frequented by a variety of deer, attended by Rakshasas. The city was blooming with prosperity.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Laṅkā

FAQs

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

The verse frames power ethically: engines, gates, and wealth are neutral instruments; dharma depends on their purpose. In the Ramayana, righteous force is that which serves satya—restoring justice and protecting the violated moral order.

What is the narrative situation?

The concluding description of the sarga presents Laṅkā’s wealth, architectural grandeur, and military defenses as Rāma views it with his large force.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Responsible leadership: Rāma confronts a heavily fortified city with preparedness and moral resolve rather than aggression for conquest.