Shloka 24

प्रहस्तनिर्याणम्

Prahasta’s Departure and the Muster of the Rakshasa Host

Devanagari script

सधनुष्काःकवचिनोवेगादाप्लुत्यराक्षसाः ।रावणंप्रेक्ष्यराजानंप्रहस्तंपर्यवारयन् ।।।।

Transliteration

sa-dhanuṣkāḥ kavacino vegād āplutya rākṣasāḥ |

rāvaṇaṃ prekṣya rājānaṃ prahastaṃ paryavārayan ||

Translation

ധനുസ്സും കവചവും ധരിച്ച രാക്ഷസന്മാർ വേഗത്തിൽ പാഞ്ഞെത്തി; രാജാവായ രാവണനെ ദർശിച്ച ശേഷം അവർ ക്ഷണത്തിൽ പ്രഹസ്തനെ ചുറ്റി കൂടി.

Word by Word

• सधनुष्काः: bearing bows
• सधनुष्काः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa + dhanuṣka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (धनुः यस्य सः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; राक्षसाः इति विशेषण

• कवचिनः: armored
• कवचिनः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kavacin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; राक्षसाः इति विशेषण

• वेगात्: swiftly, with speed
• वेगात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vega (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन; हेतौ/कारणे (because of speed; swiftly)

• आप्लुत्य: having leapt/advanced
• आप्लुत्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: plu (धातु; ā-√plu)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having leapt/approached’

• राक्षसाः: Rakshasas
• राक्षसाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• रावणम्: Ravana
• रावणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रेक्ष्य: having looked at
• प्रेक्ष्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: īkṣ (धातु; pra-√īkṣ)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having looked at’

• राजानम्: the king
• राजानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; रावणम् इत्यस्य अपपद-सम्बन्ध (apposition)

• प्रहस्तम्: Prahastha
• प्रहस्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prahasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पर्यवारयन्: surrounded
• पर्यवारयन्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛ (धातु; pari-ā-√vṛ)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

Context

Then the Rakshasas rejoiced, wishing victory, consecrated military material with chanting and wore flower garland s.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Prahastha
• Rākṣasas
• bows (dhanuṣ)
• armor (kavaca)

FAQs

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

It depicts loyalty and order within a polity; the Ramayana invites readers to evaluate whether loyalty is guided by satya-dharma or by mere allegiance to power.

What is the narrative situation?

Armed Rākṣasas surge into formation, acknowledge Rāvaṇa, and cluster around their leader Prahastha.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discipline and loyalty within the ranks.