Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 3, Shloka 10

लङ्कादुर्गवर्णनम्

Description of Lanka’s Fortifications and Forces

Devanagari script

हृष्टप्रमुदितालङ्कामत्तद्विपसमाकुला ।महतीरथसंपूर्णारक्षोगणसमाकुला ।।।।

Transliteration

hṛṣṭa-pramuditā laṅkā matta-dvipa-samākulā | mahatī ratha-saṃpūrṇā rakṣo-gaṇa-samākulā ||

Translation

Laṅkā tampak luas dan bersorak gembira; sesak oleh gajah-gajah yang sedang mabuk birahi, penuh kereta perang, dan dipadati pasukan rākṣasa.

Word by Word

• विभागम्: division, arrangement
• विभागम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

• बलौघस्य: of the host of troops
• बलौघस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल + ओघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (बलस्य ओघः = host of forces)

• निर्देशम्: description, indication
• निर्देशम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• वाहनस्य: of the vehicles/transport
• वाहनस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb: 'thus/in this way')

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Kriya (क्रिया/preceding action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), 'having said'

• कपिश्रेष्ठः: the foremost of monkeys (Hanuman)
• कपिश्रेष्ठः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपि + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कपीनां श्रेष्ठः = best of monkeys)

• कथयामास: told, narrated
• कथयामास: Kriya (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथय् (धातु, णिच् causative of कथ्/कथयति)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तत्त्ववित्: knower of reality
• तत्त्ववित्: Karta (कर्ता/apposition to subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व + विद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (तत्त्वं वेत्ति = knower of truth)

Context

"The people in the vast island of Lanka are very delighted. Lanka is filled with chariots and innumerable rakshasas."

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā
• rākṣasas
• elephants
• chariots

FAQs

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

The verse supports dharmic warfare ethics indirectly: decisions should be grounded in accurate knowledge of circumstances (yathārtha-jñāna), not bravado or ignorance.

What is the narrative situation?

Laṅkā’s military readiness and celebratory confidence are described as the war approaches.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Strategic awareness—seeing the opponent’s strength clearly, which is necessary for responsible leadership and protection of one’s forces.