Valmiki Ramayana 6.24.20 — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 24, Shloka 20

लङ्कानिरीक्षणं व्यूहविन्यासश्च

Survey of Lanka and Deployment of the Battle Formation

Devanagari script

प्रगृह्यगिरिशृङ्गाणिमहातश्चमहीरुहन् ।लङ्कांविमर्दयिषवोरणे ।।।।

Transliteration

pragṛhya giriśṛṅgāṇi mahatāś ca mahīruhān | laṅkāṁ vimardayiṣavo raṇe ||

Translation

Dengan menggenggam puncak-puncak gunung dan pohon-pohon besar, para Vānara bertekad dalam pertempuran untuk menghancurkan Laṅkā.

Word by Word

• pragṛhya: having seized
• pragṛhya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pra-grah (धातु) + lyap (ल्यप्, कृदन्त)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्-कृदन्त, अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोग), indeclinable; expresses prior action

• giriśṛṅgāṇi: mountain peaks
• giriśṛṅgāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: giri (प्रातिपदिक) + śṛṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष): giri-śṛṅga = 'mountain-peak'; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• mahataḥ: great/huge
• mahataḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adjective (विशेषण), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with giriśṛṅgāṇi

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• mahīruhān: trees
• mahīruhān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahīruha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष): mahī-ruha = 'earth-grown' (tree); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• laṅkām: Laṅkā
• laṅkām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: laṅkā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vimardayiṣavaḥ: will crush/smash
• vimardayiṣavaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-mṛd (धातु) + iṣy (इष्य, भविष्यत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Luṭ (लुट्, Periphrastic future) / future-intent sense; Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन); agent implied (vānaraḥ understood)

• raṇe: in battle
• raṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

Vanaras resolved to go taking peaks of mountains and huge trees to smash Lanka in war.

Characters & Entities

• Vanaras
• Laṅkā
• mountain peaks
• trees

FAQs

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

Dharma framed as righteous resolve: strength is mobilized to end adharma (Rāvaṇa’s wrongdoing), not for personal gain.

What is the narrative situation?

The text describes the Vanaras arming themselves with natural weapons as they prepare to assault Laṅkā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Determination and fearlessness—readiness to confront fortified evil with whatever means are available.