Shloka 22

लङ्कादाहः — The Burning of Lanka

Catuḥpañcāśaḥ Sargaḥ

Devanagari script

प्रदीप्तमग्निं पवनस्तेषु वेश्मस्वचारयत्।अभूच्छ्वसनसंयोगादतिवेगो हुताशनः।।।।

Transliteration

pradīptam agniṃ pavanas teṣu veśmasv acārayat |

abhūc chvasanasaṃyogād ativego hutāśanaḥ ||

Translation

風は燃えさかる火をそれらの家々へと走らせた。風と相まって、火はきわめて速く広がった。

Word by Word

• pradīptam: blazing
• pradīptam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pradīpta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; pra-√dīp (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अग्निम् इति विशेषणम्

• agnim: fire
• agnim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• pavanaḥ: wind
• pavanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pavana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• teṣu: in those
• teṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुं/नपुं, सप्तमी, बहुवचन (plural)

• veśmasu: in the houses/mansions
• veśmasu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veśman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• acārayat: spread/caused to move
• acārayat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√car (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; causative sense here: "made move/spread"

• abhūt: became/was
• abhūt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• śvasana-saṅyogāt: from contact with wind
• śvasana-saṅyogāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śvasana (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅyoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): श्वसनस्य संयोगात्; पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; हेतौ

• ativegaḥ: very swift
• ativegaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati-vega (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—तत्पुरुष: अति + वेग; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; हुताशनः इति विशेषणम्

• hutāśanaḥ: fire
• hutāśanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hutāśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृपद (subject of abhūt)

Context

The wind-god's association made the fire spread at great speed. It appeared like fire at the time of dissolution.

Characters & Entities

• Wind (Pavana)
• Fire (Hutāśana)
• Laṅkā

FAQs

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

Interdependence of causes: actions (even righteous ones) interact with conditions and can expand quickly; dharma includes awareness of collateral effects and proportionality.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration details the mechanics of the fire’s spread through Laṅkā’s dwellings as wind accelerates it.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Pramāda-rahitatā (alertness) is implied: a dharmic agent must remain mindful when powerful forces are unleashed.