Shloka 1

लङ्काप्राकारारोहणम् / Assault on Lanka’s Ramparts and the Opening Clash

Devanagari script

ततस्तेराक्षसास्तत्रगत्वारावणमन्दिरम् ।न्यवेदयन्पुरींरुद्धांरामेणसहवानरैः ।।।।

Transliteration

tatas te rākṣasās tatra gatvā rāvaṇamandiram |

nyavedayan purīṃ ruddhāṃ rāmeṇa saha vānaraiḥ ||

Translation

അപ്പോൾ ആ രാക്ഷസർ അവിടെ നിന്ന് രാവണന്റെ മന്ദിരത്തിലേക്ക് ചെന്നു, രാമൻ വാനരന്മാരോടുകൂടെ നഗരിയെ പിടിച്ചെടുത്തു വളഞ്ഞിരിക്കുന്നു എന്നു അറിയിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (kāla/krama-vācaka)

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• rākṣasāḥ: Rakshasas
• rākṣasāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, deśa-vācaka adverb

• gatvā: having gone
• gatvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: Gerund/absolutive (क्त्वा), avyaya

• rāvaṇa-mandiram: Ravana's palace
• rāvaṇa-mandiram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa + mandira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: rāvaṇasya mandiram

• nyavedayan: informed
• nyavedayan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni√vid (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्/laṅ), 3rd person, Plural, Parasmaipada; causative sense in usage: 'reported/informed'

• purīm: the city
• purīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• ruddhām: besieged/blocked
• ruddhām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √rudh (धातु) > ruddha (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Feminine, Accusative, Singular; agrees with purīm

• rāmeṇa: by Rama
• rāmeṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, sahārtha particle; governs Instrumental

• vānaraiḥ: with the Vanaras
• vānaraiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

Context

Then the Rakshasas proceeding to Ravana's abode informed that Rama along with the vanaras have occupied the whole of Lanka.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Rāvaṇa
• Laṅkā
• Vānara army
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Dharma here appears as truthful reporting and responsibility within governance: messengers convey the real situation to the king, enabling accountable decision-making rather than denial or deception.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma and the vānaras have effectively surrounded/occupied Laṅkā; rākṣasa subordinates rush to Rāvaṇa’s residence to announce the breach and siege.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Satya (truthfulness) and institutional duty: the act of accurately informing the ruler, even when the news is alarming.