Shloka 33

लङ्कादाहः — The Burning of Lanka

Catuḥpañcāśaḥ Sargaḥ

Devanagari script

आदित्यकोटीसदृशस्सुतेजा लङ्कां समस्तां परिवार्य तिष्ठन्।शब्दैरनेकैरशनिप्ररूढैर्भिन्दन्निवाण्डं प्रबभौ महाग्निः।।।।

Transliteration

āditya-koṭī-sadṛśaḥ su-tejā laṅkāṃ samastāṃ parivārya tiṣṭhan | śabdair anekair aśani-prarūḍhair bhindann ivāṇḍaṃ prababhau mahāgniḥ ||

Translation

O grande fogo, refulgente como dez milhões de sóis, permaneceu de pé, circundando toda Laṅkā. Com incontáveis estrondos, como golpes de raio, ardia como se rompesse a própria casca do mundo.

Word by Word

• आदित्य-कोटि-सदृशः: like crores of suns
• आदित्य-कोटि-सदृशः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आदित्य (प्रातिपदिक) + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक) + सदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (महाग्निः)

• सुतेजाः: highly radiant
• सुतेजाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग) + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (महाग्निः)

• लङ्काम्: Laṅkā
• लङ्काम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लङ्का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• समस्ताम्: entire
• समस्ताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (लङ्काम्)

• परिवार्य: having surrounded
• परिवार्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + वृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वक्रिया

• तिष्ठन्: standing
• तिष्ठन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि

• शब्दैः: with sounds
• शब्दैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• अनेकैः: many
• अनेकैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (शब्दैः)

• अशनि-प्ररूढैः: like thunderbolt-born (thunderous)
• अशनि-प्ररूढैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशनि (प्रातिपदिक) + प्ररूढ (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (शब्दैः)

• भिन्दन्: breaking
• भिन्दन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भिद् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि, 'as if breaking'

• इव: as if
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमासूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमावाचक (comparative particle)

• अण्डम्: the cosmic egg / universe
• अण्डम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रबभौ: shone forth
• प्रबभौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• महाग्निः: the great fire
• महाग्निः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

Fanned by the wind, inflamed by the fat from the corpses of the demons, the fire spread in the mansions burning without smoke. It spread with great speed like the fire at the end of the universe.

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā
• āditya (sun)
• aśani (thunderbolt)

FAQs

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

It presents adharma’s downfall as not merely local but cosmic in resonance: when wrongdoing reaches extremes, the correction appears world-shaking, reaffirming the primacy of moral order (ṛta/dharma).

What is the narrative situation?

The conflagration reaches its peak—surrounding the whole city, roaring with thunderous sounds, and shining with overwhelming brilliance.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse magnifies the unstoppable efficacy of Rāma’s cause as carried by Hanumān; it highlights the power that supports dharma when it is time to confront entrenched injustice.