Shloka 14

सुवेलारोहणम्

The Ascent of Suvela and the First Full View of Laṅkā

Devanagari script

तेत्वदीर्घेणकालेनगिरिमारुह्यसर्वतः ।।।।ददृशुशशिखरेतस्यविषक्तामिवखेपुरीम् ।

Transliteration

te tv adīrgheṇa kālena girim āruhya sarvataḥ |

dadṛśuḥ śikhare tasya viṣaktām iva khe purīm ||6.38.14||

Translation

അൽപസമയത്തിനുള്ളിൽ അവർ എല്ലാദിക്കുകളിലും നിന്ന് പർവതം കയറി, അതിന്റെ ശിഖരത്തിൽ ആകാശത്തോട് ചേർന്നു നിൽക്കുന്നപോലെ തോന്നുന്ന നഗരിയെ കണ്ടു.

Word by Word

• ते: they
• ते: कर्ता (kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; nominative plural

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: पूर्वकाल (prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्यय; having seen

• वानराः: vanaras
• वानराः: कर्ता (kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; masculine nominative plural (qualifying वानराः)

• राक्षसान्: Rakshasas
• राक्षसान्: कर्म (karma / object of दृष्ट्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; accusative plural

• युद्धकाङ्क्षिणः: desiring battle
• युद्धकाङ्क्षिणः: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युद्ध + काङ्क्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (युद्धं काङ्क्षन्ति); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• मुमुचुः: released, let out
• मुमुचुः: क्रिया (kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; 3rd person plural

• विविधान्: various
• विविधान्: कर्म-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; masculine accusative plural (qualifying नादान्)

• नादान्: roars, cries
• नादान्: कर्म (karma / object of मुमुचुः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; accusative plural

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: देशाधिकरण (location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: there)

• रामस्य: of Rama
• रामस्य: सम्बन्ध (ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; genitive singular

• पश्यतः: while (he) was seeing
• पश्यतः: सप्तमी/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (genitive absolute: while Rama was watching)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), षष्ठी, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; present active participle, genitive singular masculine (locative absolute sense with रामस्य)

Context

All of them in no time ascended the mountain peak and saw the city of Lanka which was as if clinging closely to the sky and hanging.

Characters & Entities

• Suvela (implied mountain peak context)
• Laṅkā (implied as the city seen)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes vigilance and right-seeing: before action, one must accurately observe the situation—here, the army gains a clear view of Laṅkā, preparing for a just conflict.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma’s forces reach the heights of Suvela and obtain their first commanding view of Laṅkā, poised for the next phase of the war.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Alertness and preparedness—swift ascent followed by careful sighting of the objective.