Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

पूर्वद्वारंतुकुमुदःकोटीभिर्दशभिर्वृतः ।आवृत्यबलवांस्तस्थौहरिभिर्जितकाशिभिः ।।।।

Transliteration

pūrvadvāraṃ tu kumudaḥ koṭībhir daśabhir vṛtaḥ |

āvṛtya balavāṃs tasthau haribhir jitakāśibhiḥ ||

Translation

കിഴക്കേ വാതിൽ കുമുദൻ പത്ത് കോടി വാനരസേനയാൽ ചുറ്റി തടഞ്ഞു; ജയകാന്തിയോടെ തിളങ്ങുന്ന ഹരികളോടൊപ്പം ബലവാനായി അവിടെ നിലകൊണ്ടു.

Word by Word

• पूर्वद्वारम्: the eastern gate
• पूर्वद्वारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—पूर्वद्वारम् = पूर्वं द्वारम् (eastern gate)

• तु: but / indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• कुमुदः: Kumuda
• कुमुदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमुद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (नाम)

• कोटीभिः: with crores (of troops)
• कोटीभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• दशभिः: ten
• दशभिः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन्/दश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (सर्वलिङ्ग), तृतीया, बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक (numeral)

• वृतः: surrounded
• वृतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे (surrounded)

• आवृत्य: having surrounded
• आवृत्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + वृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त्वा, अव्ययभाव (having surrounded/covered)

• बलवान्: mighty
• बलवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तस्थौ: stood / remained stationed
• तस्थौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• हरिभिः: with monkeys
• हरिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• जितकाशिभिः: of triumphant splendor
• जितकाशिभिः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + काशि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—जिता काशिः (दीप्तिः/शोभा) येषां ते (having victorious/bright splendor)

Context

Kumuda, surrounded by ten crores of mighty monkeys, who appeared like conquerors, stationed at the east gate.

Characters & Entities

• Kumuda
• Laṅkā

FAQs

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

Dharma is fulfilled through assigned responsibility: each leader accepts a sector, showing accountability in service of a righteous campaign.

What is the narrative situation?

The Vānara army divides to cover Laṅkā’s gates; Kumuda is stationed at the eastern entrance with a vast force.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kartavya-niṣṭhā (steadfastness to duty) and strategic steadiness.