Shloka 30

लङ्कादाह-प्रचोदनं तथा वानर-राक्षस-समरारम्भः

The Burning of Lanka and the Outbreak of Battle

Devanagari script

लङ्कायांदह्यमानायांशुशुभे स महार्णवः ।छायासंसक्तसलिलोलोहितोदइवार्णवः ।।।।

Transliteration

laṅkāyāṃ dahyamānāyāṃ śuśubhe sa mahārṇavaḥ |

chāyāsaṃsaktasalilo lohitoda ivārṇavaḥ ||

Translation

ランカーが燃え上がると、大海原は輝き、その水面は都の炎を映し出し、まるで赤い水の海のようであった。

Word by Word

• लङ्कायाम्: in Lanka
• लङ्कायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लङ्का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• दह्यमानायाम्: while (it was) burning
• दह्यमानायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दह् (धातु) → दह्यमान (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शानच्/आन), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (लङ्कायाम्)

• शुशुभे: shone, appeared splendid
• शुशुभे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुभ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• सः: that (he/it)
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• महार्णवः: the great ocean
• महार्णवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + अर्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (महान् अर्णवः)

• छायासंसक्तसलिलः: whose water was tinged with reflected shadow
• छायासंसक्तसलिलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छाया + संसक्त + सलिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (छायया संसक्तं सलिलं यस्य) विशेषणम् (अर्णवः)

• लोहितोदः: having reddish water
• लोहितोदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोहित + उद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (लोहितम् उदकं यस्य) विशेषणम् (अर्णवः)

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha/Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• अर्णवः: ocean
• अर्णवः: Upameya (उपमेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

While Lanka was burning its image reflected in the ocean made the ocean look like an ocean of red waters.

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā
• mahārṇava (ocean)
• agni (fire)

FAQs

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

Actions have far-reaching effects: adharma’s fire does not remain private; it stains the wider world. Dharma demands responsibility because consequences spread beyond the immediate wrongdoer.

What is the narrative situation?

The burning city’s glow reflects on the sea, making the ocean appear red.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Accountability is emphasized indirectly: the world ‘reflects’ one’s deeds, suggesting that truth (satya) becomes visible through outcomes.