Valmiki Ramayana 6.11.20 — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 11, Shloka 20

रावणस्य सभाप्रवेशः

Ravana Enters the Royal Assembly and Summons Counsel

Devanagari script

राक्षसास्तद्वचश्श्रुत्वालङ्कायांपरिचक्रमुः ।।6.11.19।।अनुगेहमवस्थायविहारशयनेषुच ।उद्यानेषुचरक्षांसिचोदयन्तोह्यभीतवत् ।।6.11.20।।

Transliteration

rākṣasās tadvacaḥ śrutvā laṅkāyāṃ paricakramuḥ | anugṛham avasthāya vihāraśayaneṣu ca | udyāneṣu ca rakṣāṃsi codayanto hy abhītavat ||

Translation

तद्वचः श्रुत्वा राक्षसाः लङ्कायां परिचक्रमुः—अनुगेहमवस्थाय विहारशयनेषु च उद्यानेषु च; रक्षांसि अभितवत् चोदयन्तः।

Word by Word

• अनु-गेहम्: from house to house
• अनु-गेहम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनु (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + गेह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (Adverbial: 'house after house'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter) द्वितीया-एकवचन रूपं समासे अव्ययवत् (used adverbially)

• अवस्थाय: having stationed/stayed
• अवस्थाय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); 'having stayed/standing'

• विहार-शयनेषु: in recreation-places and sleeping-quarters
• विहार-शयनेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विहार (प्रातिपदिक) + शयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative, 7th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• उद्यानेषु: in gardens
• उद्यानेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative, 7th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• रक्षांसि: the rākṣasas (demons)
• रक्षांसि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative, 2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• चोदयन्तः: urging/directing
• चोदयन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चुद् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (Present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative, 1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/indeed)

• अभीतवत्: fearlessly
• अभीतवत्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अभीतवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverbial usage; manner)

Context

Those Rakshasas having heard the words spoken by Ravana went to places of recreation, bedrooms and gardens and went round without fear into every house directing the Rakshasas.

Characters & Entities

• Rākṣasas
• Laṅkā
• Gardens (udyāna)

FAQs

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

Collective obedience and mobilization show societal coordination; dharma asks that such coordinated power be restrained by truth and righteousness, not fearlessness in wrongdoing.

What is the narrative situation?

Messengers/agents spread across Laṅkā to gather and activate rākṣasa forces from homes and leisure spaces.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Readiness and discipline—energetic response to command (though not necessarily dharmic in intent).