Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 42, Shloka 47

लङ्काप्राकारारोहणम् / Assault on Lanka’s Ramparts and the Opening Clash

Devanagari script

ससम्प्रहारस्तुमुलोमांसशोणितकर्दमः ।रक्षसांवानराणांचसम्बभूवाद्भुतोपमाः।।।।

Transliteration

sa samprahāras tumulo māṃsa-śoṇita-kardamaḥ |

rakṣasāṃ vānarāṇāṃ ca sambabhūvādbhuto-pamaḥ ||

Translation

रक्षसां वानराणां च स सम्प्रहारः तुमुलो मांसशोणितकर्दमः; अद्भुतोपमः सञ्जज्ञे॥

Word by Word

• saḥ: that
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• samprahāraḥ: clash; melee
• samprahāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता; apposition to saḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samprahāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• tumulaḥ: tumultuous
• tumulaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tumula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; qualifies samprahāraḥ

• māṃsa-śoṇita-kardamaḥ: a mire of flesh and blood
• māṃsa-śoṇita-kardamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; descriptive apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māṃsa + śoṇita + kardama (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: ‘māṃsena śoṇitena ca kardamaḥ’ = mire of flesh and blood

• rakṣasām: of Rakshasas
• rakṣasām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana

• vānarāṇām: of Vanaras
• vānarāṇām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Samucchaya
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• sambabhūva: came to be
• sambabhūva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु) with sam- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: Liṭ lakāra (perfect), Prathama puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

• adbhutopamaḥ: wonderful to behold
• adbhutopamaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adbhuta + upama (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; karmadhāraya ‘adbhutā upamā yasya’/‘adbhuta-upama’ = of wondrous likeness

Context

Thinking of Vaidehi again and again, who is pained, Rama ordered the Vanaras to kill the enemies immediately.

Characters & Entities

• Rākṣasas
• Vānaras

FAQs

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

The verse underscores the heavy cost of war; even when a cause is righteous, violence produces suffering. Dharmic reflection includes acknowledging consequences and restraining war to necessity.

What is the narrative situation?

The fighting escalates into brutal hand-to-hand conflict, described as a chaotic, blood-soaked melee between Vānaras and Rākṣasas.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Endurance under extreme conditions—combatants persist amid overwhelming terror and injury, highlighting the grim steadfastness of wartime duty.