Shloka 34

लङ्काप्राकारारोहणम् / Assault on Lanka’s Ramparts and the Opening Clash

Devanagari script

ततःप्रचोदिताभेर्यश्चन्द्रपाण्डरपुष्कराः ।हेमकोणाहताभीमाराक्षसानांसमन्ततः ।।।।

Transliteration

tataḥ pracoditā bheryaś candrapāṇḍarapuṣkarāḥ | hemakōṇāhatā bhīmā rākṣasānāṃ samantataḥ ||

Translation

Entonces los timbales, de parches blancos como la luna, fueron golpeados por todas partes por los Rākṣasas con varas de oro, alzando un estruendo aterrador.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय; English: 'then'

• pracoditāḥ: beaten/struck
• pracoditāḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-cud (धातु) > pracodita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; PPP of pra-√cud; English: 'set in motion/struck'

• bheryaḥ: kettle-drums
• bheryaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bherī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; English: 'kettle-drums'

• candra-pāṇḍara-puṣkarāḥ: moon-white-headed (drums)
• candra-pāṇḍara-puṣkarāḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: candra (प्रातिपदिक) + pāṇḍara (प्रातिपदिक) + puṣkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (बहुपद); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; bheryaḥ-viśeṣaṇa; English: 'with drumheads white like the moon'

• hema-koṇa-āhatāḥ: struck with golden mallets
• hema-koṇa-āhatāḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hema (प्रातिपदिक) + koṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + āhata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; PPP of ā-√han; English: 'struck with golden sticks/mallets'

• bhīmāḥ: terrible
• bhīmāḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhīma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; bheryaḥ-viśeṣaṇa; English: 'terrible'

• rākṣasānām: of the Rakshasas
• rākṣasānām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; English: 'of the Rakshasas'

• samantataḥ: on all sides
• samantataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samantataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय; English: 'on all sides'

Context

Then shone the white discs like the moon beaten by the Rakshasas with gold sticks making terrific sound.

Characters & Entities

• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

It contrasts external intimidation with inner righteousness: dharma relies on truth and right conduct, not merely on frightening display and noise.

What is the narrative situation?

The Rākṣasa army signals mobilization with drums, amplifying fear and announcing the impending engagement.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The implied virtue is steadiness under intimidation—maintaining composure when confronted by spectacle and threat.