Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 57, Shloka 20

प्रहस्तनिर्याणम्

Prahasta’s Departure and the Muster of the Rakshasa Host

Devanagari script

इत्युक्तास्तेप्रहस्तेनबलाध्यक्षा: कृतत्वरा: ।बलमुद्योजयामासुस्तस्मिन्राक्षसमन्दिरे ।।।।

Transliteration

ity uktās te prahastena balādhyakṣāḥ kṛta-tvarāḥ |

balam udyōjayāmāsuḥ tasmin rākṣasa-mandire ||

Translation

പ്രഹസ്തൻ ഇങ്ങനെ പറഞ്ഞതോടെ, ബലാധ്യക്ഷന്മാർ ഉടൻ തന്നെ ത്വരിതരായി, ആ രാക്ഷസദുർഗ്ഗത്തിൽ സൈന്യത്തെ സജ്ജമാക്കാൻ തുടങ്ങി.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Prakāra/Ittham (प्रकार/इत्थम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (quotative particle)

• उक्ताः: having been told
• उक्ताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: क्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ते इति विशेषण

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• प्रहस्तेन: by Prahastha
• प्रहस्तेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prahasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• बलाध्यक्षाः: troop-commanders
• बलाध्यक्षाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala + adhyakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ते इत्यस्य अपपद-सम्बन्ध (apposition)

• कृतत्वराः: having made haste, hurried
• कृतत्वराः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta + tvarā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (kṛtā tvarā yeṣām), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बलाध्यक्षाः इति विशेषण

• बलम्: the troops/force
• बलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उद्योजयामासुः: mobilized, set to work
• उद्योजयामासुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: udyuj (धातु; ud-√yuj)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; causative sense in usage ‘set in motion/mobilized’

• तस्मिन्: in that
• तस्मिन्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

• राक्षसमन्दिरे: in the Rakshasa-palace/abode
• राक्षसमन्दिरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa + mandira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (rākṣasānāṃ mandire), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

Context

Ravana, the king of Rakshasas, reflected for a while and deliberated with his ministers and proceeded in the forenoon to inspect all posts in Lanka.

Characters & Entities

• Prahastha

FAQs

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

It shows disciplined execution of command—organizational duty—though in service of an unrighteous cause. The Ramayana often distinguishes competence from dharma.

What is the narrative situation?

After Prahastha’s command, the officers quickly organize and ready the troops.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Efficiency and readiness in leadership structures (swift coordination among commanders).