Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

इत्येवंघोषयन्तश्चगर्जन्तश्चप्लवङ्गमाः ।अभ्यधावन्तलङ्कायाःप्राकारंकामरूपिणः ।।।।

Transliteration

ity evaṃ ghoṣayantaś ca garjantaś ca plavaṅgamāḥ |

abhyadhāvanta laṅkāyāḥ prākāraṃ kāmarūpiṇaḥ ||

Translation

ഇങ്ങനെ പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ചും ഉച്ചത്തിൽ ഗർജിച്ചും, ഇഷ്ടരൂപം ധരിക്കുന്ന പ്ലവംഗമ വാനരന്മാർ ലങ്കയുടെ പ്രാകാരത്തിലേക്ക് നേരെ പാഞ്ഞുകയറി.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• एवम्: in this manner
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्यर्थक-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• घोषयन्तः: shouting / proclaiming
• घोषयन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: घोषय् (धातु, णिजन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त—शतृ (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद-कर्तरि (active)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• गर्जन्तः: roaring
• गर्जन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—शतृ, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्तरि

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• प्लवङ्गमाः: monkeys / vanaras
• प्लवङ्गमाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्लवङ्गम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• अभ्यधावन्त: rushed towards
• अभ्यधावन्त: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + धाव् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• लङ्कायाः: of Lanka / towards Lanka
• लङ्कायाः: Adhikarana/Desha (अधिकरण/देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लङ्का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive 6th), एकवचन; गत्यर्थे षष्ठी (towards/into Lanka—poetic usage)

• प्राकारम्: rampart / defensive wall
• प्राकारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative 2nd), एकवचन

• कामरूपिणः: shape-shifting at will
• कामरूपिणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक) + रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—कामरूपिणः = कामेन (इच्छया) रूपं यस्य (able to assume forms at will)

Context

Shouting in that manner, the monkeys who could change their form at their will started roaring and rushed towards the defensive walls.

Characters & Entities

• Vānara
• Laṅkā
• Prākāra (ramparts)

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown as determined action in pursuit of justice—courage disciplined toward a rightful end, not mere aggression.

What is the narrative situation?

After raising victory-cries, the Vānaras advance to the fortifications, preparing to breach or pressure the city’s defenses.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Utsāha (energetic resolve) combined with tactical capability (kāmarūpatva used in battle).