Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

सददर्शावृतांलङ्कांसशैलवनकाननाम् ।असङ्ख्येयैर्हरिगणैःसर्वतोयुद्धकाङ्क्षिभिः ।।।।

Transliteration

sa dadarśāvṛtāṃ laṅkāṃ saśailavanakānanām | asaṅkhyeyair harigaṇaiḥ sarvato yuddhakāṅkṣibhiḥ ||

Translation

അവൻ മലകളും വനോദ്യാനങ്ങളും സഹിതമായ ലങ്കയെ കണ്ടു; എല്ലാദിക്കുകളിലും അസംഖ്യ വാനരസംഘങ്ങൾ അതിനെ മൂടിയിരുന്നു, എല്ലാവരും യുദ്ധത്തിനായി ആകാംക്ഷയോടെ.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• dadarśa: saw
• dadarśa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• āvṛtām: covered/surrounded
• āvṛtām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā√vṛ (धातु) > āvṛta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; qualifies laṅkām

• laṅkām: Lanka
• laṅkām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: laṅkā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• sa-śaila-vana-kānanām: with mountains, forests, and groves
• sa-śaila-vana-kānanām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa + śaila + vana + kānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; adjective to laṅkām; tatpuruṣa with prefix sa- 'with': 'with mountains, forests, and groves'

• asaṅkhyeyaiḥ: by countless
• asaṅkhyeyaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-saṅkhyeya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Plural; qualifies harigaṇaiḥ

• hari-gaṇaiḥ: by troops of monkeys
• hari-gaṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Plural; tatpuruṣa: harīṇāṃ gaṇaiḥ

• sarvataḥ: on all sides
• sarvataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (direction: 'on all sides')

• yuddha-kāṅkṣibhiḥ: desirous of battle
• yuddha-kāṅkṣibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yuddha + kāṅkṣin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Plural; tatpuruṣa: yuddham kāṅkṣanti iti

Context

Gavaksha of gigantic body and fierce appearance, along with one crore of Golangula species of monkeys endowed with extraordinary virility stood by the side of Sri Rama.

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā
• Vānara army (harigaṇa)

FAQs

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

The verse frames war as a collective responsibility undertaken with resolve: disciplined readiness (yuddhakāṅkṣā) in service of a righteous cause, rather than personal rage.

What is the narrative situation?

The scene surveys Laṅkā as the Vānara forces spread across its terrain, indicating the full encirclement before the next escalation in battle.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfastness and preparedness—an organized army acting with unity and purpose.