Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 3, Shloka 21

लङ्कादुर्गवर्णनम्

Description of Lanka’s Fortifications and Forces

Devanagari script

स्थितापारेसमुद्रस्यदूरपारस्यराघव ।नौपथोपिश्चनास्त्यत्रनिरादेशश्चसर्वशः ।।।।

Transliteration

sthitāpāre samudrasya dūrapārasya rāghava | naupatho 'pi ca nāsty atra nirādeśaś ca sarvaśaḥ ||

Translation

О Рагхава, она стоит на далёком берегу океана, моря, которое трудно пересечь; там нет даже морского пути для кораблей, и со всех сторон нет ни подхода, ni доступа.

Word by Word

• स्थितā: situated
• स्थितā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) (of लङ्का understood)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √sthā (धातु) + kta (क्त) → sthitā
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle), क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन (sg.); लङ्काया विशेषणम् (understood)

• पारे: on the far shore
• पारे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), सप्तमी (Loc./7th), एकवचन (sg.)

• समुद्रस्य: of the ocean
• समुद्रस्य: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी (Gen./6th), एकवचन (sg.)

• दूरपारस्य: whose crossing is far/difficult
• दूरपारस्य: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of समुद्रस्य
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dūra + pāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.)/नपुंसक (n.) depending on pāra; here agreeing with समुद्रस्य (m. gen. sg.): षष्ठी (Gen./6th), एकवचन (sg.); कर्मधारय: दूरं च तत् पारं च (far-to-cross)

• राघव: O Raghava
• राघव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सम्बोधन (Voc.), एकवचन (sg.)

• नौपथः: a ship-route
• नौपथः: Karta (कर्ता) (of अस्ति/नास्ति)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nau + patha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन (sg.); तत्पुरुष: नौः पथः (ship-route)

• अपि: even / also
• अपि: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अपि-कार (particle: even/also)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (conjunction)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध (negation particle)

• अस्ति: exists
• अस्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg.)

• अत्र: here/there
• अत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक (adverb of place: here/there)

• निरादेशः: no indication/landmark
• निरादेशः: Karta (कर्ता) (of अस्ति/नास्ति understood)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nir-ādeśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन (sg.)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (conjunction)

• सर्वशः: everywhere
• सर्वशः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvaśas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकार/व्याप्ति-वाचक (adverb: everywhere/in every way)

Context

"O Raghava! Lanka is located on the other shore of the ocean. Passage through the sea is not possible. It is away from all and there is nothing around."

Characters & Entities

• Rāghava (Rāma)
• samudra (ocean)
• Laṅkā (implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma involves perseverance in righteous aims despite isolation and difficulty; obstacles do not negate duty.

What is the narrative situation?

The geographical difficulty of reaching Laṅkā is emphasized: it lies beyond a hard-to-cross ocean with no ordinary route.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Endurance and determination—continuing toward the goal even when normal means are absent.