Shloka 3

लङ्कादाहः — The Burning of Lanka

Catuḥpañcāśaḥ Sargaḥ

Devanagari script

वनं तावत्प्रमथितं प्रकृष्टा राक्षसा हताः।।।बलैकदेशः क्षपितश्शेषं दुर्गविनाशनम्।

Transliteration

vanaṃ tāvat pramathitaṃ prakṛṣṭā rākṣasā hatāḥ | balaika-deśaḥ kṣapitaḥ śeṣaṃ durga-vināśanam ||

Translation

वनं तावत् समूलं प्रमथितम्; प्रकृष्टा राक्षसाः निहताः। बलस्यैकदेशः क्षपितः; शेषं तु दुर्गस्य विनाशनमेव॥

Word by Word

• वनम्: the grove/garden
• वनम्: कर्म (Karma; with implied ‘प्रमथितम्’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तावत्: so far/indeed
• तावत्: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रमाण/अवधि/एतावदर्थक (to that extent/so far)

• प्रमथितम्: devastated
• प्रमथितम्: विधेय (Predicate; describing ‘वनम्’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मथ् (धातु)
• Form: उपसर्ग-पूर्वक (प्र+), क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘smashed/destroyed’

• प्रकृष्टाः: mighty/elite
• प्रकृष्टाः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa of ‘राक्षसाः’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रकृष्ट (प्रातिपदिक; √कृष्/कर्ष् with प्र, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• राक्षसाः: demons
• राक्षसाः: कर्ता (Karta; with implied ‘हताः’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• हताः: killed
• हताः: विधेय (Predicate; of ‘राक्षसाः’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘slain’

• बलैकदेशः: a portion of the army
• बलैकदेशः: कर्ता (Karta; with implied ‘क्षपितः’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल+एकदेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: बलस्य एकदेशः (a part of the army)

• क्षपितः: destroyed
• क्षपितः: विधेय (Predicate; of ‘बलैकदेशः’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘destroyed’

• शेषम्: the remainder
• शेषम्: विधेय/उद्देश्य (Topic; ‘remaining is...’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘remaining (thing)’

• दुर्गविनाशनम्: destruction of the citadel
• दुर्गविनाशनम्: विधेय (Predicate complement of ‘शेषम्’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्ग+विनाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: दुर्गस्य विनाशनम् (destruction of the fortress)

Context

The highly radiant fire stood like a crore of Suns surrounding the entire Lanka. It was glowing, cracking like Indra's thunderbolt as though the whole universe was collapsing.

Characters & Entities

• rākṣasas
• vana (grove/garden)

FAQs

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

It points to accountability in power: when leadership ignores dharma, the breakdown becomes measurable—loss of protection, loss of life, and the looming fall of the stronghold itself.

What is the narrative situation?

A status update is delivered about Hanumān’s devastation: the garden is destroyed, elite defenders are killed, and military units are wiped out; the citadel is the remaining target.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Strategic clarity and effectiveness (as seen in Hanumān’s impact): the report lists objectives already accomplished, underscoring disciplined execution rather than random destruction.