Shloka 17

लङ्कादाह-प्रचोदनं तथा वानर-राक्षस-समरारम्भः

The Burning of Lanka and the Outbreak of Battle

Devanagari script

नानाविधान्गृहच्छन्दान्धदाहहुतभुक्तदा ।आवासान्राक्षसानां च सर्वेषांगृहगर्थिनाम् ।।6.75.14।।हेमचित्रतनुत्राणस्रग्दामाम्भरधारिणाम् ।शीधुपानचलाक्षाणांमद्विह्वलगामिनाम् ।।6.75.15।।कान्तालम्बितवस्त्राणांशत्रुसञ्जातमन्युनाम् ।गदाशूलासिहस्तानांखादतांपिबतामपि ।।6.75.16।।शयनेषुमहार्हेषुप्रसुप्तानांप्रियैस्सह ।त्रस्तानांगच्छतांतूर्णंपुत्रानादायसर्वतः ।।6.75.17।।तेषांशतसहस्राणितदालङ्कानिवासिनाम् ।अदहत्पावकस्तत्रजज्वाल च पुनःपुनः ।।6.75.18।।

Transliteration

śayaneṣu mahārheṣu prasuptānāṃ priyaiḥ saha |

trastānāṃ gacchatāṃ tūrṇaṃ putrān ādāya sarvataḥ || 6.75.17 ||

Translation

Ada yang lena di atas ranjang mahal bersama yang dikasihi; ada pula yang ketakutan, melarikan diri dengan segera dari segenap arah, sambil mendukung anak-anak mereka ketika berlari.

Word by Word

• कान्ता-आलम्बित-वस्त्राणाम्: of those whose garments were held by their beloveds
• कान्ता-आलम्बित-वस्त्राणाम्: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कान्ता (प्रातिपदिक) + आलम्बित (कृदन्त, √लम्ब्; past passive participle) + वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'कान्तया आलम्बितानि वस्त्राणि'

• शत्रु-सञ्जात-मन्युनाम्: of those whose anger had arisen against enemies
• शत्रु-सञ्जात-मन्युनाम्: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक) + सञ्जात (कृदन्त, √जन्; PPP) + मन्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'शत्रौ सञ्जातः मन्युः'

• गदा-शूल-असि-हस्तानाम्: of those with maces, tridents, and swords in hand
• गदा-शूल-असि-हस्तानाम्: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा (प्रातिपदिक) + शूल (प्रातिपदिक) + असि (प्रातिपदिक) + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'गदाशूलासयः हस्तेषु येषाम्'

• खादताम्: of those eating
• खादताम्: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: खाद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त-प्राय (वर्तमानकालिक-प्रयोग); actually present active participle used substantively: 'खादत्' → षष्ठी बहुवचन 'खादताम्' (of those eating)

• पिबताम्: of those drinking
• पिबताम्: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), वर्तमानकाले कृदन्तवत् प्रयोग; 'पिबत्' → षष्ठी बहुवचन 'पिबताम्' (of those drinking)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-कार (also/even)

Context

The fire consumed many kinds of wonderful homes of Rakshasas, with loved ones on the best beds, their armour made of gold Rakshasas decked with garland s and best of attire their eyes inebriated with intoxication, shaking while walking slowly, holding their loved ones, seized with anger against enemies, holding mace and tridents in hand, eating, drinking and sleeping on the best beds, fast asleep some out of fear taking their sons going quickly and all of them dwelling there in hundreds and thousands were burning again and again.

Characters & Entities

• Rākṣasas
• Laṅkā
• Fire (Agni/Pāvaka)

FAQs

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

Worldly security is fragile: luxury and intimacy cannot protect against the fallout of collective adharma; responsibility for one’s actions affects even families.

What is the narrative situation?

As the fire spreads, the city’s residents react in contrasting ways—some unaware in sleep, others panicked—highlighting the suddenness of calamity.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse underscores the seriousness of Rāvaṇa’s wrongdoing by showing how his adharma brings fear and suffering to his own people.