Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 37, Shloka 17

लङ्काद्वारव्यूहवर्णनम् / Disposition at the Gates of Lanka

Devanagari script

गजानांचसाहस्रंचरथानामयुतंपुरे ।हयानामयुतेद्वेचसाग्राकोटीचरक्षसाम् ।।6.37.16।।विक्रान्ताबलवन्तश्चसंयुगेष्वाततायिनः ।इष्टाराक्षसराजस्यनित्यमेतेनिशाचराः ।।6.37.17।।

Transliteration

gajānāṃ ca sāhasraṃ ca rathānām ayutaṃ pure | hayānām ayute dve ca sāgrā koṭī ca rakṣasām || (6.37.16) ||

vikrāntā balavantaś ca saṃyugeṣv ātatāyinaḥ | iṣṭā rākṣasarājasya nityam ete niśācarāḥ || (6.37.17) ||

Translation

ଲଙ୍କାପୁରୀରେ ଗଜମାନଙ୍କର ସହସ୍ର, ରଥମାନଙ୍କର ଅୟୁତ, ହୟମାନଙ୍କର ଦ୍ୱିଅୟୁତ ଏବଂ ରାକ୍ଷସମାନଙ୍କର ସାଗ୍ରକୋଟିଠାରୁ ଅଧିକ ସେନା ଅଛି। ସେ ନିଶାଚରମାନେ ପରାକ୍ରମୀ, ବଳବାନ ଓ ଯୁଦ୍ଧରେ ଉଗ୍ର ଆକ୍ରମଣକାରୀ; ରାକ୍ଷସରାଜଙ୍କୁ ସଦା ପ୍ରିୟ।

Word by Word

• vikrāntāḥ: valiant
• vikrāntāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vikrānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (valiant)

• balavantaḥ: strong
• balavantaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: balavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (Nom), बहुवचन; विशेषण (strong)

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

• saṃyugeṣu: in battles
• saṃyugeṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃyuga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), बहुवचन

• ātatāyinaḥ: assailants
• ātatāyinaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātatāyin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (Nom), बहुवचन; कर्तृवाचक-नाम (aggressors/assailants)

• iṣṭāḥ: dear; favored
• iṣṭāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: iṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक; √iṣ (धातु) से क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (Nom), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle used adjectivally)

• rākṣasarājasya: of the king of rakshasas
• rākṣasarājasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa-rāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (rākṣasānāṃ rājā)

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• ete: these
• ete: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (Nom), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• niśācarāḥ: night-rangers (rakshasas)
• niśācarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśā-cara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (Nom), बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (niśāyāṃ caranti)

Context

"Elephant army of ten thousand, similarly ten thousand charioteers, horse riders in twenty thousand, more than a crore foot soldiers, mighty strong and valiant warriors, night ranger's beloved to Ravana, the king of Rakshasas were staying close and serving."

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā
• Rākṣasas
• Rākṣasa-king (Rāvaṇa implied)

FAQs

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

As in 6.37.16: Dharma is not validated by force; ethical legitimacy rests on truth and rightful conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

A repeated/overlapping transmission restating the scale and nature of Laṅkā’s forces.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Collective martial capacity and readiness.