Valmiki Ramayana 1.54.22: Bala Kanda, Sarga 54, Shloka 22

शबलाहरणम् · The Attempted Seizure of Sabalā (Kāmadhenu) and the Triumph of Brahmic Power

Devanagari script

दीर्घासिपट्टिशधरैःमवर्णाम्बरावृतैः ।

निर्दग्धं तद्बलं सर्वं प्रदीप्तैरिव पावकैः ॥२२॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 1.54.22

Transliteration

dīrghāsipaṭṭiśadharaiḥ hemavarṇāmbarāvṛtaiḥ |

nirdagdhaṃ tad balaṃ sarvaṃ pradīptair iva pāvakaiḥ ||22||

Translation

उनके हाथ में लंबी तलवारें और बर्छे थे। वो पीले कपड़े पहने थे। उन्होंने पूरा दुश्मन का सेना ख़त्म कर दिया, जैसे आग सब को जला देती है।

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Word by Word

• दीर्घासिपट्टिशधरैः: by bearers of long swords and lances
• दीर्घासिपट्टिशधरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीर्घ-असि-पट्टिश-धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—दीर्घाः असयः पট্টिशाः च येषां ते धराः (bearers)

• हेमवर्णाम्बरावृतैः: clad in golden-colored garments
• हेमवर्णाम्बरावृतैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हेम-वर्ण-अम्बर-आवृत (प्रातिपदिक; आवृ धातु-निष्पन्न कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त ‘आवृत’ = ‘clad/covered’; तत्पुरुषः—हेमवर्णेन अम्बरेण आवृतैः

• निर्दग्धम्: burnt up / consumed
• निर्दग्धम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्+दह् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (PPP)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• बलम्: army
• बलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सर्वम्: entire
• सर्वम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रदीप्तैः: by blazing
• प्रदीप्तैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र+दीप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (PPP)

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय (simile particle)

• पावकैः: fires
• पावकैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पावक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Context

Sakas and Yavanas, armed with swords and lances, clad in yellow apparel, looking like flaming fire destroyed the entire army.

Characters & Entities

• Śaka
• Yavana

FAQs

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

Unchecked aggression brings destruction. Dharma demands that strength be governed by right purpose and restraint, not mere dominance.

What is the narrative situation?

The newly manifested warrior-groups devastate the opposing army, described through vivid fire imagery.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast, the episode points toward the virtue of self-control (dama) and humility, as the destructive capacity of force is highlighted.