Valmiki Ramayana 6.39.28: Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 39, Shloka 28

लङ्कादर्शनम्

Viewing Laṅkā and its Forest-Gardens

Spoken by ValmikiSetting: Laṅkā (in view, approached by Rāma’s host)Arrival/first sight of the enemy capital before engagement

Devanagari script

तांमहागृहसम्बाधांदृष्टवालक्ष्मणपूर्वजः ।

नगरीममरप्रख्योविस्मयंप्राप्यवीर्यवान् ॥२८॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 6.39.28

Transliteration

tāṃ mahāgṛhasambādhāṃ dṛṣṭvā lakṣmaṇapūrvajaḥ |

nagarīm amaraprakhyo vismayaṃ prāpa vīryavān ||28||

Translation

जब उस शहर को देखा तो राम हैरान हो गया। इतने बड़े महल थे। इतनी भीड़-भाड़ थी। लक्ष्मण का बड़ा भाई था वो। बहुत पावरफुल और ब्रेव था। लेकिन शहर देख के वंडर में आ गया। जैसे कोई अमर देवता हो ऐसा चमक रहा था उसका पर्सनैल्टी।

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Word by Word

• ताम्: that (her/that city)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम (Pronoun)
• Role: कर्म (Karman/Object)

• महागृहसम्बाधाम्: crowded/packed with great houses (palaces)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महागृह-सम्बाधा (प्रातिपदिक); महा (उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद) + गृह (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्बाधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (Adjective) ताम्/नगरीम् इत्यस्य
• Role: कर्म (Karman/Object) (विशेषण-रूपेण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + क्त्वा (क्त्वान्त/Absolutive)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया (prior action): "having seen"
• Role: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial to main action)

• लक्ष्मणपूर्वजः: the elder brother of Lakshmana (Rama)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण-पूर्वज (प्रातिपदिक); लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); सम्बन्ध-तत्पुरुषः (genitive sense): "Lakṣmaṇa's elder brother"
• Role: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• नगरीम्: city
• Type: Noun
• Root: नगरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)
• Role: कर्म (Karman/Object)

• अमरप्रख्यः: godlike, renowned like the immortals
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमर-प्रख्य (प्रातिपदिक); अमर (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (Adjective) लक्ष्मणपूर्वजः/वीर्यवान् इत्यस्य
• Role: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject) (विशेषण-रूपेण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• विस्मयम्: astonishment
• Type: Noun
• Root: विस्मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)
• Role: कर्म (Karman/Object)

• प्राप्य: having attained (having felt)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु) + ल्यप् (ल्यबन्त/Absolutive)
• Form: ल्यबन्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive): "having attained/experiencing"
• Role: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial to implied main action)

• वीर्यवान्: valiant, powerful
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीर्यवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (Adjective) लक्ष्मणपूर्वजः इत्यस्य
• Role: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject) (विशेषण-रूपेण)

Sandhi Notes

• तांमहागृहसम्बाधांदृष्ट्वा → ताम् + महागृहसम्बाधाम् + दृष्ट्वा
• दृष्टवालक्ष्मणपूर्वजः → दृष्ट्वा + लक्ष्मणपूर्वजः
• नगरीममरप्रख्योविस्मयंप्राप्यवीर्यवान् → नगरीम् + अमरप्रख्यः + विस्मयम् + प्राप्य + वीर्यवान्

Context

Valiant brother of Lakshmana wondered seeing the city filled with great palaces, distinct like Lord Indra's city.

The teaching

Even when confronted by overwhelming opulence and power, the dhārmic agent observes clearly before acting—wonder does not become distraction.

Ethical theme

Yuddha-dharma (strategic discernment)

For your practice

Cultivates smṛti and steadiness: perceive beauty/power without losing dhārmic aim.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Adbhuta (wonder), with Vira (heroism)

Mood

Awe-struck, majestic, anticipatory

Themes

• Architecture
• Wonder
• War
• Itihasa

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Lanka

FAQs

Why did Rama feel wonder upon seeing Lanka?

Rama was astonished by the architectural grandeur and the density of the magnificent palaces (mahāgṛha) that filled the city of Lanka.

What is the significance of the epithet 'Amaraprakhya' used for Rama?

It describes Rama as having the splendor or presence of an 'Amara' (immortal or Deva), highlighting his divine qualities even before the battle commenced.