Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 85, Shloka 33

निकुम्भिला

यज्ञविघ्नः — Vibhishana’s Counsel and Lakshmana’s March to Nikumbhila

Devanagari script

स गत्वादूरमध्वानंसौमित्रिर्मित्रनन्दनः ।राक्षसेन्द्रबलंदूरादपश्यद्व्यूहमाश्रितम् ।।6.85.33।।

Transliteration

sa gatvā dūram adhvānaṃ saumitrir mitra-nandanaḥ |

rākṣasendra-balaṃ dūrād apaśyad vyūham āśritam ||6.85.33||

Translation

ദീർഘമായ പാത പിന്നിട്ട്, സുഹൃത്തുകൾക്ക് ആനന്ദമായ സൗമിത്രി ലക്ഷ്മണൻ, ദൂരത്തിൽ നിന്ന് തന്നെ വ്യൂഹമായി നിരന്നിരുന്ന രാക്ഷസേന്ദ്രന്റെ സൈന്യത്തെ കണ്ടു.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund); 'having gone'

• दूरम्: a long distance
• दूरम्: देश/परिमाण (Extent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; गमन-परिमाण (extent) used adverbially

• अध्वानम्: the road/journey
• अध्वानम्: कर्म (Karma; object of 'having gone' in sense of traversed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; गमनमार्ग (path/journey)

• सौमित्रिः: Saumitrī (Lakshmana)
• सौमित्रिः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौमित्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• मित्रनन्दनः: delight of friends
• मित्रनन्दनः: कर्ता (Karta; appositive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र (प्रातिपदिक) + नन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'मित्राणां नन्दनः' (delight of friends); apposition to सौमित्रिः

• राक्षसेन्द्रबलम्: the demon-king's army
• राक्षसेन्द्रबलम्: कर्म (Karma; object of seeing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षसेन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'राक्षसेन्द्रस्य बलम्'

• दूरात्: from afar
• दूरात्: अपादान (Apādāna; from afar)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; अपादान (source) used adverbially

• अपश्यत्: saw
• अपश्यत्: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पश्/√दृश् (धातु; 'to see')
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• व्यूहम्: battle-array
• व्यूहम्: कर्म (Karma; object/complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यूह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; 'battle-array' (as state/formation)

• आश्रितम्: drawn up/arranged
• आश्रितम्: कर्म (Karma; object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-√श्रि (धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; विशेषण (of राक्षसेन्द्रबलम्): 'having taken refuge in/arranged in'

Context

Lakshmana, the delight of friends, witnessed from a distance the Rakshasa army arranged in battle-array.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa (Saumitrī)
• Rākṣasa army

FAQs

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

Dharma in conflict includes vigilance and discernment—recognizing threats clearly before engaging, avoiding reckless violence.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa advances and sights the enemy forces arranged in a formal battle formation at a distance.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Alertness and composure—he assesses the battlefield with steadiness.