Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 37, Shloka 10

लङ्काद्वारव्यूहवर्णनम् / Disposition at the Gates of Lanka

Devanagari script

पूर्वंप्रहस्तस्सबलोद्वारमासाद्यतिष्ठति ।दक्षिणंचमहावीर्यौमहापार्श्वमहोदरौ ।।।।

Transliteration

pūrvaṃ prahastaḥ sabalo dvāram āsādya tiṣṭhati | dakṣiṇaṃ ca mahāvīryau mahāpārśvamahodarau ||

Translation

पूर्वद्वारे प्रहस्तः सबलो बलवान् तिष्ठति । दक्षिणद्वारे च महावीर्यौ महापार्श्वमहोदरौ ॥

Word by Word

• पूर्वम्: eastern
• पूर्वम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्वारम् इति विशेषणम् (eastern)

• प्रहस्तः: Prahasta
• प्रहस्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prahasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सबलः: with (his) forces
• सबलः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (सह/स-उपपद): ‘बलेन सह’/‘बलवान्’; पुल्लिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; प्रहस्तः इति विशेषणम्

• द्वारम्: gate
• द्वारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आसाद्य: having reached
• आसाद्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-sad (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभावकृदन्त (gerund); ‘having reached/approached’

• तिष्ठति: stands, remains
• तिष्ठति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• दक्षिणम्: southern
• दक्षिणम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dakṣiṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; (द्वारम्) अनुवृत्त्या ‘southern (gate)’

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

• महावीर्यौ: two of great valor
• महावीर्यौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā-vīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: ‘महद् वीर्यं यस्य’ (of great valor); पुल्लिङ्ग; प्रथमा, द्विवचन; महापार्श्वमहोदरौ इति विशेषणम्

• महापार्श्वमहोदरौ: Mahāpārśva and Mahodara
• महापार्श्वमहोदरौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahāpārśva + mahodara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: ‘महापार्श्वश्च महोदरश्च’; पुल्लिङ्ग; प्रथमा, द्विवचन

Context

"Powerful Prahasta stands at east gate with army, Mahaparsva and Mahodara of great valour are at the south gate."

Characters & Entities

• Prahasta
• Mahāpārśva
• Mahodara
• Laṅkā (gates implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma in warfare includes order and accountability: forces are stationed clearly, indicating organized command rather than lawless violence.

What is the narrative situation?

Laṅkā’s defenders are arranged by direction; key commanders are assigned to specific gates.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Readiness and discipline in command—strategic placement and preparedness.