Shloka 8

धूम्राक्षप्रेषणम्

The Dispatch of Dhūmrākṣa

Devanagari script

तथोक्तास्तेनसम्भ्रान्ताःप्राकारमधिरुह्यच ।ददृशुःपालितांसेनांसुग्रीवेणमहात्मना ।।6.51.8।।तौचमुक्तौसुघोरेणशरबन्धेनराघवौ ।समुत्थितौमहाभागौविषेदुःप्रेक्ष्यराक्षसाः ।।6.51.9।।

Transliteration

tathoktās tena sambhrāntāḥ prākāram adhiruhya ca |

dadṛśuḥ pālitāṃ senāṃ sugrīveṇa mahātmanā || 6.51.8 ||

Translation

Demikian diperintah olehnya, para rākṣasa yang gelisah pun memanjat benteng; lalu mereka melihat bala tentera yang terpelihara rapi di bawah lindungan Sugrīva yang berhati agung.

Word by Word

तथाthus

उक्ताःhaving been told

तेनby him

सम्भ्रान्ताःagitated, bewildered

प्राकारम्rampart, wall

अधिरुह्यhaving climbed

चand

ददृशुःthey saw

पालिताम्protected

सेनाम्army

सुग्रीवेणby Sugriva

महात्मनाby the great-souled

Context

Ravana having said so, the bewildered Rakshasas scaling the boundary wall beheld the army protected by great Sugriva and the prosperous Raghavas relieved from arrows and happy, he became worried.

Characters & Entities

Sugrīva

rākṣasas

senā (vānara army)

prākāra (ramparts/boundary wall of Laṅkā)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is expressed as protective leadership: a ruler/commander safeguards those under his charge, and the army’s cohesion depends on responsible guardianship.

What is the narrative situation?

After being instructed (by their leader), rākṣasas climb the fortifications of Laṅkā to assess the opposing force and witness the vānara host organized under Sugrīva’s protection.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sugrīva’s virtue as a protector-king: vigilance, organization, and steadfast support of allies in a righteous cause.