Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 3, Shloka 6

लङ्कादुर्गवर्णनम्

Description of Lanka’s Fortifications and Forces

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वारामस्यवचनंहनुमान्मारुतात्मजः ।वाक्यंवाक्यविदांश्रेष्ठोरामंपुनरथाब्रवीत् ।।।।

Transliteration

śrutvā rāmasya vacanaṃ hanumān mārutātmajaḥ |

vākyaṃ vākyavidāṃ śreṣṭho rāmaṃ punar athābravīt ||6.3.6||

Translation

ເມື່ອໄດ້ຟັງພຣະດຳຣັດຂອງພຣະຣາມແລ້ວ ຫນຸມານ ບຸດແຫ່ງມາຣຸຕິ ຜູ້ເລີດລ້ຳໃນຫມູ່ນັກວາຈາ ຈຶ່ງກ່າວທູນພຣະຣາມອີກຄັ້ງ.

Word by Word

• श्रूयताम्: let (it) be heard
• श्रूयताम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, आत्मनेपदम्; आज्ञार्थे/निवेदनार्थे (polite: ‘let it be heard’)

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आख्यास्ये: I shall relate
• आख्यास्ये: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + ख्या (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन, आत्मनेपदम्; उपसर्गः आ

• दुर्गकर्मविधानतः: according to the method of fortification
• दुर्गकर्मविधानतः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दुर्ग + कर्म + विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास (तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त: ‘विधानतः’ = ‘according to the arrangement’), अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial)

• गुप्ता: well-guarded
• गुप्ता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुप्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् पुरी-शब्दस्य

• पुरी: city
• पुरी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• यथा: as, how
• यथा: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (correlative: ‘how/just as’)

• लङ्का: Laṅkā
• लङ्का: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लङ्का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; पुरी-शब्दस्य समानाधिकरणम्

• रक्षिता: protected
• रक्षिता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; पुरी-शब्दस्य विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• यथा: as
• यथा: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (correlative)

• बलैः: by forces
• बलैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

Context

Hanuman, the foremost of the vanaras said that he will truly point out everything in Lanka:"Ravana's power, the affection of rakshasas to Ravana, his prosperity, the terrifying ocean, the divisions of the army such as chariots, elephants, horses and soldiers."

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Hanuman
• Māruti (Vāyu)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes truthful, skillful speech used in service of righteousness—communication becomes a moral instrument when aligned with Satya.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator introduces Hanuman’s reply to Rama after being asked to describe Lanka’s defenses and conditions.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Eloquence joined to devotion—Hanuman’s capacity to speak effectively for Rama’s righteous mission.