Shloka 40

लङ्काप्राकारारोहणम् / Assault on Lanka’s Ramparts and the Opening Clash

Devanagari script

गजानांबृंहितैःसार्धंहयानांहेषितैरपि ।रथानांनेमिघोषैश्चरक्षसाम्वदनस्वनः ।। ।।

Transliteration

gajānāṃ bṛṃhitaiḥ sārdhaṃ hayānāṃ heṣitair api |

rathānāṃ nemighoṣaiś ca rakṣasāṃ vadanasvanaḥ ||

Translation

象の咆哮と馬のいななきに、戦車の車輪の轟きと羅刹（ラークシャサ）の叫びが加わり、その喧噪は高まり、四方へと広がった。

Word by Word

• gajānām: of elephants
• gajānām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masculine), Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (6th/genitive), Bahuvacana (plural)

• bṛṃhitaiḥ: with trumpetings
• bṛṃhitaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bṛṃhita (कृदन्त; √bṛṃh/bṛh ‘to roar, trumpet’)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter; ‘bellowing/trumpeting’ as a sound), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (3rd/instrumental), Bahuvacana (plural)

• sārdham: together with
• sārdham: Sahārtha (सह/association)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sārdham (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; upapada meaning ‘together with’ (सह-अर्थ)

• hayānām: of horses
• hayānām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: haya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th/genitive), Bahuvacana

• heṣitaiḥ: with neighings
• heṣitaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: heṣita (कृदन्त; √heṣ ‘to neigh’)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter; ‘neighing’ as sound), Tṛtīyā (3rd/instrumental), Bahuvacana

• api: also
• api: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (निपात) meaning ‘also/even’

• rathānām: of chariots
• rathānām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th/genitive), Bahuvacana

• nemighoṣaiḥ: with the rumbling of wheel-rims
• nemighoṣaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nemi + ghoṣa (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd/instrumental), Bahuvacana; Ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: ‘nemiṇāṃ ghoṣāḥ’ (sound of rims/wheels)

• ca: and
• ca: Samucchaya (समुच्चय/coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction (समुच्चय)

• rakṣasām: of the Rakshasas
• rakṣasām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter; ‘rakṣas’), Ṣaṣṭhī (6th/genitive), Bahuvacana

• vadanasvanaḥ: the roar of voices
• vadanasvanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vadana + svana (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti (1st/nominative), Ekavacana (singular); Ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: ‘vadanānāṃ svanaḥ’ (sound of mouths/voices)

Context

The trumpeting of the elephants, the neighing of horses, the clatter of the wheels of the chariots and the shout of Rakshasas resounded in the air.

Characters & Entities

• Elephants
• Horses
• Chariots
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

It underscores the gravity of warfare: dharma demands restraint and right purpose, because violence quickly becomes overwhelming and indiscriminate.

What is the narrative situation?

The battlefield’s noise intensifies as animals, chariots, and warriors all move into full combat.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Collective readiness and martial discipline are implied, though the verse mainly paints the sensory magnitude of war.