Shloka 3

लङ्कानिरीक्षणं व्यूहविन्यासश्च

Survey of Lanka and Deployment of the Battle Formation

Devanagari script

ततश्शुश्रुवुराक्रुष्टंलङ्कायांकाननौकसः ।भेरीमृदङ्गसङ्घुष्टंतुमुलंरोमहर्षणम् ।।।।

Transliteration

tataḥ śuśruvur ākruṣṭaṃ laṅkāyāṃ kānanaukasaḥ |

bherīmṛdaṅgasaṅghuṣṭaṃ tumulaṃ romaharṣaṇam ||

Translation

Alors, les hôtes de la forêt entendirent, venant de l'intérieur de Laṅkā, un tumulte féroce et assourdissant, résonnant de timbales et de mṛdaṅgas, si effroyable qu'il faisait dresser les cheveux sur la tête.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kālādhi karaṇa / Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (काल/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (then)

• śuśruvuḥ: heard
• śuśruvuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• ākruṣṭam: a loud cry
• ākruṣṭam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-√kruś (धातु) + kta (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (as noun-adj: ‘a cry’)

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

• kānana-aukasaḥ: the forest-dwellers (vanaras)
• kānana-aukasaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kānana (प्रातिपदिक) + okas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘dwellers of the forest’

• bhērī-mṛdaṅga-saṅghuṣṭam: resounding with drums
• bhērī-mṛdaṅga-saṅghuṣṭam: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhērī (प्रातिपदिक) + mṛdaṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅghuṣṭa (कृदन्त; √ghuṣ घोषे)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘resounding with kettledrums and drums’

• tumulam: tumultuous
• tumulam: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tumula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• roma-harṣaṇam: hair-raising
• roma-harṣaṇam: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: roma (प्रातिपदिक) + harṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘causing hair-raising’

Context

There upon having settled down, the army hordes heard from Lanka terrific and tumultuous noise of drums and percussion instruments that caused horripilation.

Characters & Entities

• Lanka
• Vanaras

FAQs

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

Dharma in conflict requires readiness without moral collapse: the verse frames the gravity of war, urging steadiness rather than panic.

What is the narrative situation?

As the Vanara army is positioned, they hear thunderous war-drums and uproar from Laṅkā, signaling escalation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage and composure in the face of fear-inducing signs.