Shloka 8

लङ्कादाह-प्रचोदनं तथा वानर-राक्षस-समरारम्भः

The Burning of Lanka and the Outbreak of Battle

Devanagari script

अगुरुर्दह्यतेतत्रवरं च हरिचन्दनम् ।।।।मौक्तिकामणयस्स्निग्धावज्रंचापिप्रवालकम् ।

Transliteration

agurur dahyate tatra varaṃ ca haricandanam |

mauktikā maṇayaḥ snigdhā vajraṃ cāpi pravālakam ||

Translation

Di Laṅkā, kayu gaharu dan cendana terbaik pun terbakar; bahkan mutiara yang berkilau, permata-permata, intan, dan karang turut dilahap nyala api.

Word by Word

• aguruḥ: aloeswood/incense
• aguruḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aguru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• dahyate: is burned
• dahyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dah (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), आत्मनेपद

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक

• varam: excellent
• varam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; here as adjective to haricandanam (best)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक

• haricandanam: yellow sandalwood
• haricandanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari + candana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: हरि (पीत/हरित) चन्दनम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• mauktikāḥ: pearls
• mauktikāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mauktika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (रत्नवाचक), प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• maṇayaḥ: gems
• maṇayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• snigdhāḥ: lustrous/smooth
• snigdhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: snigdha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; adjective to mauktikāḥ/maṇayaḥ

• vajram: diamond
• vajram: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अपि (also)

• pravālakam: coral
• pravālakam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pravālaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

There, in Lanka, incense and the best of sandalwood was burnt. Nay even glossy pearls, gems and diamonds were also burnt.

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā
• Maṇi (gems)
• Vajra (diamond)
• Pravāla (coral)

FAQs

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

It underscores impermanence and the moral consequence of adharma: even luxury and precious wealth cannot protect a city built on wrongdoing; truth and righteousness outlast material splendor.

What is the narrative situation?

A descriptive passage depicting devastation in Laṅkā, where valuable substances and ornaments are being burned in the turmoil of war.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Not a single hero’s trait, but a didactic emphasis on detachment and clarity: material riches are shown as fragile when dharma collapses.