Shloka 18

लङ्काद्वारव्यूहवर्णनम् / Disposition at the Gates of Lanka

Devanagari script

एकैकस्यात्रयुद्धार्थेराक्षसस्यविशाम्पते ।परीवारस्सहस्राणांसहस्रमुपतिष्ठते ।।।।

Transliteration

ekaikasya ’tra yuddhārthe rākṣasasya viśāṃpate | parīvāraḥ sahasrāṇāṃ sahasram upatiṣṭhate ||

Translation

Ô seigneur des hommes, pour chaque Rākṣasa ici voué au combat, se tient un cortège d’auxiliaires—des milliers sur des milliers—prêt à le soutenir.

Word by Word

• ekaikasya: of each (one)
• ekaikasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka-eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व/पुनरुक्त-समास (each one)

• atra: here
• atra: Desha-adhikarana (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• yuddhārthe: for the purpose of war
• yuddhārthe: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuddha-artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुष (yuddhasya arthe = for the purpose of war)

• rākṣasasya: of a rakshasa
• rākṣasasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• viśāṃpate: O lord of men
• viśāṃpate: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśāṃ-pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (viśām patiḥ)

• parīvāraḥ: retinue; attendants
• parīvāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parīvāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (Nom), एकवचन

• sahasrāṇām: of thousands
• sahasrāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन

• sahasram: a thousand
• sahasram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• upatiṣṭhate: stands by; attends
• upatiṣṭhate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sthā (धातु) उप + तिष्ठ (वर्तमान-प्रत्यय)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Context

"O! Lord of men! For the sake of assisting one Rakshasa in war ten lakhs of Rakshasas are staying at his service."

Characters & Entities

• Rākṣasas
• Laṅkā (implied battlefield context)

FAQs

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

The verse underscores the gravity of war: when countless lives stand behind each fighter, Dharma demands careful, truthful assessment and restraint—war is never a light decision.

What is the narrative situation?

A report emphasizing the depth of Laṅkā’s manpower—each combatant is backed by massive supporting numbers.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Strategic realism and truthful reporting (satya in counsel): accurately conveying the scale of danger.