Valmiki Ramayana 6.24.16 — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 24, Shloka 16

लङ्कानिरीक्षणं व्यूहविन्यासश्च

Survey of Lanka and Deployment of the Battle Formation

Devanagari script

गन्धहस्तीवदुर्धर्षस्तरस्वीगन्धमादनः ।तिष्ठेद्वानरवाहिन्यास्सव्यंपार्श्वंसमाश्रित:।। ।।

Transliteration

gandhahastīva durdharṣas tarasvī gandhamādanaḥ | tiṣṭhed vānaravāhinyāḥ savyaṁ pārśvaṁ samāśritaḥ ||

Translation

Пусть могучий Гандхамадана — неодолимый, как гордый слон, — займёт левый фланг войска и стойко удерживает его.

Word by Word

• gandhahastī: a rut-elephant (lit. scented elephant)
• gandhahastī: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha + hastin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (gandhaḥ hastī)

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक-अव्यय

• durdharṣaḥ: hard to assail
• durdharṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durdharṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (gandhamādanaḥ)

• tarasvī: swift/strong
• tarasvī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tarasvin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (gandhamādanaḥ)

• gandhamādanaḥ: Gandhamādana
• gandhamādanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha + mādana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (gandhaṃ mādayati iti / gandhasya mādanaḥ)

• tiṣṭhet: should stand
• tiṣṭhet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• vānaravāhinyāḥ: of the monkey-contingent
• vānaravāhinyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara + vāhinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (vānārāṇāṃ vāhinī)

• savyam: left (side)
• savyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: savya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (pārśvam)

• pārśvam: side/flank
• pārśvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• samāśritaḥ: having occupied/taken refuge at
• samāśritaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam + ā + śri (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (gandhamādanaḥ)

Context

"Let the mighty Gandhamadana, a difficult one to conquer like a proud elephant, take the battalion of army and stay on the right side"

Characters & Entities

• Gandhamādana
• Vanara host

FAQs

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

Dharma as steadfast duty: holding one’s assigned post for the safety of the whole, even under attack.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma completes flank assignments, ensuring balanced protection on both sides of the formation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fearlessness and endurance—Gandhamādana is portrayed as difficult to overwhelm.