Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 3, Shloka 18

लङ्कादुर्गवर्णनम्

Description of Lanka’s Fortifications and Forces

Devanagari script

एकस्त्वकम्प्योबलवान्सङ्क्रमस्सुमहादृढः ।काञ्चनै र्बहुभिस्स्तम्भैर्वेदिकाभिश्चशोभितः ।।।।

Transliteration

ekas tv akampyo balavān saṅkramaḥ sumahādṛḍhaḥ | kāñcanair bahubhis stambhair vedikābhiś ca śobhitaḥ ||

Translation

មានច្រកឆ្លងមួយដែលមិនរង្គើ—មានកម្លាំង និងរឹងមាំយ៉ាងខ្លាំង—ត្រូវបានតុបតែងដោយសសរមាសជាច្រើន និងវេទិកា (អាសនៈបូជា/ជាន់ពិធី) ឲ្យរុងរឿង។

Word by Word

• त्रायन्ते: protect (serve as protection)
• त्रायन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्रा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• सङ्क्रमाः: crossings/approaches
• सङ्क्रमाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सङ्क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय

• परसैन्यागते: when the enemy army has come
• परसैन्यागते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative absolute condition)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर + सैन्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आगत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी हेतु/काल (locative absolute): 'when the enemy army has arrived'

• सति: being (the case)
• सति: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative absolute)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (present participle), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute)

• यन्त्रैः: by engines
• यन्त्रैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• तैः: by those
• तैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (refers to engines)

• अवकीर्यन्ते: are scattered/strewn
• अवकीर्यन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + कीर् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• परिखासु: in the moats
• परिखासु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• समन्ततः: all around
• समन्ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/extent)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: परितोभाववाचक अव्यय (adverb: 'all around')

Context

"One of the road ways is very strong and steady, shining with unshakeable golden pillars and altars."

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā
• kāñcana (gold)
• vedikā (platform/altar)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is indirectly shown through the idea of stability: what supports a kingdom—structures, institutions, and discipline—must be firm and reliable.

What is the narrative situation?

A standout, especially strong approach/bridge of Laṅkā is being singled out as part of the city’s defensive architecture.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfastness (dhairya/sthairya) as a strategic and moral quality—what is “unshakable” is praised.