Valmiki Ramayana 6.57.28 — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 57, Shloka 28

प्रहस्तनिर्याणम्

Prahasta’s Departure and the Muster of the Rakshasa Host

Devanagari script

ततस्तंरथमास्थायरावणार्पितशासनः ।लङ्कायानिर्ययौतूर्णंबलेनमहतावृतः ।।।।

Transliteration

tatas taṃ ratham āsthāya rāvaṇārpita-śāsanaḥ |

laṅkāyā niryayau tūrṇaṃ balena mahatā vṛtaḥ ||6.57.28||

Translation

പിന്നീട് ആ രഥത്തിൽ ഇരുന്ന്, രാവണന്റെ ആജ്ഞയെ ശിരസ്സിൽ ധരിച്ചു, പ്രഹസ്തൻ മഹാസൈന്യത്താൽ ചുറ്റപ്പെട്ടവനായി ലങ്കയിൽ നിന്ന് വേഗത്തിൽ പുറപ്പെട്ടു।

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: कालाधिकरण (Kāla-adhikaraṇa; time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय; तद्-प्रातिपदिकात्)
• Form: काल/अनन्तर-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• तम्: that (him/it)
• तम्: कर्म (Karma; object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• रथम्: chariot
• रथम्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आस्थाय: having mounted
• आस्थाय: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (pūrvakāla-kriyā; prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-स्था (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त; अव्ययभाव)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): 'having mounted/taken seat'

• रावणार्पितशासनः: one acting under Ravana's command
• रावणार्पितशासनः: कर्ता (Kartā; subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण-अर्पित-शासन (प्रातिपदिक; रावणः+अर्पित+शासन)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'रावणेन अर्पितं शासनं यस्य' (one whose command is given by Ravana)

• लङ्कायाः: from Lanka
• लङ्कायाः: अपादान (Apādāna; source/from)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लङ्का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• निर्ययौ: went out / emerged
• निर्ययौ: क्रिया (Kriyā; main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्-या (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• तूर्णम्: swiftly
• तूर्णम्: क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तूर्णम् (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्यर्थ-अव्यय (adverb of manner/speed)

• बलेन: with an army
• बलेन: करण/सहकारक (Karaṇa/Sahakāraka; accompaniment/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; सहार्थे/साधनार्थे (with/by an army)

• महता: great
• महता: करण-विशेषण (qualifier of instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् बलम् प्रति

• वृतः: surrounded
• वृतः: कर्ता-विशेषण (qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकाले क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'परिवृतः' (surrounded)

Context

Then, by the order of Ravana, Prahastha set out immediately and departed from Lanka taking a se at in the chariot, surrounded by the great army.

Characters & Entities

• Prahastha
• Ravana
• Lanka
• chariot
• army (bala)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights obedience to authority as a social duty, while also raising a dharmic question central to the Ramayana: obedience is not automatically righteous—true dharma requires discerning whether the command aligns with satya and justice.

What is the narrative situation?

Prahastha, appointed by Rāvaṇa, leaves Lanka immediately in a chariot, escorted by a large army, to engage in battle.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prompt execution of assigned duty (decisiveness and operational discipline), albeit in service of Rāvaṇa’s campaign.