Shloka 11

लङ्काद्वारव्यूहवर्णनम् / Disposition at the Gates of Lanka

Devanagari script

इन्द्रजित्पश्चिमंद्वारंराक्षसैर्भहुभिर्वृतः ।पट्टसासिधनुष्मद्भिश्शूलमुद्गरपाणिभिः ।।।।नानाप्रहरणैश्शूरैरावृतोरावणात्मजः ।

Transliteration

indrajit paścimaṃ dvāraṃ rākṣasair bahubhir vṛtaḥ | paṭṭasāsidhanuṣmadbhiḥ śūlamudgarapāṇibhiḥ ||

nānāpraharaṇaiḥ śūraiḥ āvṛto rāvaṇātmajaḥ ||

Translation

À la porte de l’ouest se tenait Indrajit, fils de Rāvaṇa, entouré de nombreux rākṣasas : des héros portant épées et arcs, lances et masses, et des armes de toutes sortes.

Word by Word

इन्द्रजित्Indrajit

पश्चिमम्western

द्वारम्gate

राक्षसैःby rākṣasas

बहुभिःmany

वृतःsurrounded

पट्टसासिधनुष्मद्भिःwith (warriors) bearing axes/swords and bows

शूलमुद्गरपाणिभिःwith (those) holding spears and maces

नानाvarious

प्रहरणैःwith weapons

शूरैःby heroes

आवृतःencompassed, surrounded

रावणात्मजःRāvaṇa’s son

Context

"Ravana's own son, Indrajith stands at the west gate surrounded by numerous Rakshasas collected together wielding sharp swords, bows, spears, arrows and darts and many kinds of weapons."

Characters & Entities

Indrajit

Rāvaṇa

Rākṣasas

Laṅkā (western gate implied)

FAQs

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

The verse indirectly contrasts Dharma and Adharma: great power and weaponry, when used to defend unjust seizure and wrongdoing, does not become righteous merely by strength.

What is the narrative situation?

Indrajit is posted at Laṅkā’s western gate with a heavily armed contingent.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Martial prowess and preparedness (though ethically neutral until aligned with righteous purpose).