Shloka 10

लङ्कानिरीक्षणं व्यूहविन्यासश्च

Survey of Lanka and Deployment of the Battle Formation

Devanagari script

विमानैर्बहुभिर्लङ्कासङ्कीर्णाभुविराजते ।विष्णोःपदमिवाकाशंछादितंपाण्डुभिर्घनैः ।।।।

Transliteration

vimānair bahubhir laṅkā saṅkīrṇā bhuvi rājate | viṣṇoḥ padam ivākāśaṃ chāditaṃ pāṇḍubhir ghanaiḥ ||6.24.10||

Translation

അനവധി വിമാനങ്ങളാൽ നിറഞ്ഞ ലങ്ക ഭൂമിയിൽ ദീപ്തിയായി തിളങ്ങുന്നു—വിഷ്ണുവിന്റെ പദംപോലെയുള്ള ആകാശം മങ്ങിയ വെളുത്ത മേഘങ്ങളാൽ മൂടപ്പെട്ടിരിക്കുന്നതുപോലെ.

Word by Word

• vimānaiḥ: with aerial cars/palaces
• vimānaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vimāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• bahubhiḥ: many
• bahubhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (vimānaiḥ)

• laṅkā: Lanka
• laṅkā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: laṅkā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• saṅkīrṇā: crowded/filled
• saṅkīrṇā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam + kṝ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (laṅkā)

• bhuvi: on earth/on the ground
• bhuvi: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• rājate: shines/appears splendid
• rājate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: rāj (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• viṣṇoḥ: of Vishnu
• viṣṇoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• padam: step/abode
• padam: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपमान-पदम् (ākāśam)

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक-अव्यय

• ākāśam: the sky
• ākāśam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ākāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• chāditam: covered
• chāditam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: chād (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (ākāśam)

• pāṇḍubhiḥ: white/pale
• pāṇḍubhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāṇḍu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (ghanaiḥ)

• ghanaiḥ: by clouds
• ghanaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

Context

"This Lanka appears splendid with a mass of skyscrapers like white clouds covering the path of Vishnu in the sky."

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā
• Viṣṇu

FAQs

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

The verse warns indirectly that splendor is not the same as righteousness: a city may shine outwardly while harboring adharma within.

What is the narrative situation?

The poet describes the grandeur of Laṅkā, crowded with vimānas and compared to cloud-filled sky.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discernment—judging by dharma rather than external magnificence.