Shloka 19

लङ्कादाहः — The Burning of Lanka

Catuḥpañcāśaḥ Sargaḥ

Devanagari script

ततस्तस्मिन्गृहे मुख्ये नानारत्नविभूषिते।मेरुमन्दरसङ्काशे सर्वमङ्गळशोभिते।।।।प्रदीप्तमग्निमुत्सृज्य लाङ्गूलाग्रे प्रतिष्ठितम्।ननाद हनुमान्वीरो युगान्तजलदो यथा।।।।

Transliteration

tatas tasmin gṛhe mukhye nānāratnavibhūṣite |

merumandarasaṅkāśe sarvamaṅgaḷaśobhite ||

Translation

അനന്തരം ആ മുഖ്യമായ ഭവനത്തിൽ—നാനാവിധ രത്നങ്ങളാൽ അലങ്കൃതമായി, മേരു–മന്ദരപർവ്വതങ്ങളെപ്പോലെ ദീപ്തമായി, സർവ്വമംഗളശോഭയാൽ ശോഭിച്ചുകൊണ്ടു—

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb); अर्थे—अनन्तरम् (then/thereafter)

• tasmin: in that
• tasmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun); पुं/नपुं, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन (singular); locative—"in that"

• gṛhe: in the house/palace
• gṛhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन (singular)

• mukhye: chief, principal
• mukhye: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mukhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण (adjective); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; गृहे इति विशेषणम् (qualifying gṛhe)

• nānā-ratna-vibhūṣite: adorned with various gems
• nānā-ratna-vibhūṣite: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nānā (अव्यय) + ratna (प्रातिपदिक) + vibhūṣita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √bhūṣ (धातु) + vi-, क्त)
• Form: समासः—तत्पुरुष (determinative): नानाविधानि रत्नानि येन विभूषितम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; गृहे इति विशेषणम्

• meru-mandara-saṅkāśe: resembling Meru and Mandara (mountains)
• meru-mandara-saṅkāśe: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: meru (प्रातिपदिक) + mandara (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅkāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—तत्पुरुष: मेरुमन्दरयोः सङ्काशम् (resembling Meru and Mandara); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; गृहे इति विशेषणम्

• sarva-maṅgaḷa-śobhite: beautified with all auspicious things
• sarva-maṅgaḷa-śobhite: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + maṅgaḷa (प्रातिपदिक) + śobhita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √śubh/śobh (धातु), क्त)
• Form: समासः—तत्पुरुष: सर्वैः मङ्गलैः शोभितम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; गृहे इति विशेषणम्

Context

Then Hanuman, the hero with the burning tail set fire to the chief palace of Ravana that resembled mountains Meru and Mandara, decorated with different kinds of gems and exquisite with several auspicious articles. While the flames were rising up, he roared like the thundering cloud at the time of dissolution.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Rāvaṇa’s palace
• Meru
• Mandara
• Laṅkā
• Hanumān

FAQs

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

Outer splendor is not inner righteousness: the palace’s auspicious-looking grandeur contrasts with the adharmic rule it represents.

What is the narrative situation?

The text describes the magnificence of Rāvaṇa’s chief palace as Hanumān comes to it.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Dharma-dṛṣṭi (ethical vision): the narrative prepares the reader to see beyond appearances—wealth and ‘auspicious’ décor do not sanctify wrongdoing.