Shloka 28

लङ्कादर्शनम्

Viewing Laṅkā and its Forest-Gardens

Devanagari script

तांमहागृहसम्बाधांदृष्टवालक्ष्मणपूर्वजः ।नगरीममरप्रख्योविस्मयंप्राप्यवीर्यवान् ।।6.39.28।।

Transliteration

tāṃ mahāgṛha-sambādhāṃ dṛṣṭvā lakṣmaṇa-pūrvajaḥ |

nagarīm amara-prakhyo vismayaṃ prāpya vīryavān ||6.39.28||

Translation

Melihat kota itu sesak dengan rumah-rumah besar, abang sulung Lakṣmaṇa—perkasa, bersinar laksana makhluk abadi—diliputi rasa takjub.

Word by Word

• ताम्: that (her/that city)
• ताम्: कर्म (Karman/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम (Pronoun)

• महागृहसम्बाधाम्: crowded/packed with great houses (palaces)
• महागृहसम्बाधाम्: कर्म (Karman/Object) (विशेषण-रूपेण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महागृह-सम्बाधा (प्रातिपदिक); महा (उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद) + गृह (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्बाधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (Adjective) ताम्/नगरीम् इत्यस्य

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial to main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + क्त्वा (क्त्वान्त/Absolutive)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया (prior action): "having seen"

• लक्ष्मणपूर्वजः: the elder brother of Lakshmana (Rama)
• लक्ष्मणपूर्वजः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण-पूर्वज (प्रातिपदिक); लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); सम्बन्ध-तत्पुरुषः (genitive sense): "Lakṣmaṇa's elder brother"

• नगरीम्: city
• नगरीम्: कर्म (Karman/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नगरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• अमरप्रख्यः: godlike, renowned like the immortals
• अमरप्रख्यः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject) (विशेषण-रूपेण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमर-प्रख्य (प्रातिपदिक); अमर (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (Adjective) लक्ष्मणपूर्वजः/वीर्यवान् इत्यस्य

• विस्मयम्: astonishment
• विस्मयम्: कर्म (Karman/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विस्मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्राप्य: having attained (having felt)
• प्राप्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial to implied main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु) + ल्यप् (ल्यबन्त/Absolutive)
• Form: ल्यबन्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive): "having attained/experiencing"

• वीर्यवान्: valiant, powerful
• वीर्यवान्: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject) (विशेषण-रूपेण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीर्यवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (Adjective) लक्ष्मणपूर्वजः इत्यस्य

Context

Prosperous Rama, brother of Lakshmana along with Vanaras saw different kinds of forests, mountains filled with different kinds of minerals, delightful gardens endowed with different varieties of flowers, charming birds singing happily, frequented by a variety of deer, attended by Rakshasas. The city was blooming with prosperity.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Laṅkā

FAQs

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

Dharma includes humility before reality: even the righteous hero acknowledges the magnitude of what stands before him. Wonder does not weaken dharma; it can sharpen responsibility and truthful appraisal (satya) before action.

What is the narrative situation?

After detailed description of Laṅkā’s prosperity, the narrative notes Rāma’s reaction—astonishment at the city’s density of grand buildings.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility and composure: Rāma can feel wonder without losing self-command or righteous intent.