Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 3, Shloka 23

लङ्कादुर्गवर्णनम्

Description of Lanka’s Fortifications and Forces

Devanagari script

परिखाश्चशतघ्नयश्चयन्त्राणिविविधानिच ।शोभयन्तिपुरींलङ्कांरावणस्यदुरात्मनः ।।।।

Transliteration

parikhāś ca śataghnayaś ca yantrāṇi vividhāni ca | śobhayanti purīṃ laṅkāṃ rāvaṇasya durātmanaḥ ||

Translation

పరీఖలు, శతఘ్నీ ఆయుధాలు, నానావిధ యంత్రాలు—ఇవి దురాత్ముడైన రావణుని లంకాపురిని శోభింపజేసెను॥

Word by Word

• परिखाः: moats
• परिखाः: Karta (कर्ता) (one of the coordinated subjects)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parikhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), बहुवचन (pl.)

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

• शतघ्नयः: śataghnī weapons / missiles
• शतघ्नयः: Karta (कर्ता) (coordinated)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śataghnī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), बहुवचन (pl.)

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

• यन्त्राणि: machines/engines
• यन्त्राणि: Karta (कर्ता) (coordinated)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), बहुवचन (pl.)

• विविधानि: various
• विविधानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of यन्त्राणि
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vividha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), बहुवचन (pl.); यन्त्राणि-विशेषणम्

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

• शोभयन्ति: adorn / make splendid
• शोभयन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śubh (धातु) (causative √śubh→śobhay)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन (pl.); णिच्-प्रत्यय (causative): शोभयति = makes shine/adorns

• पुरीम्: the city
• पुरीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया (Acc./2nd), एकवचन (sg.)

• लङ्काम्: Lanka
• लङ्काम्: Karma (कर्म) (appositive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: laṅkā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया (Acc./2nd), एकवचन (sg.); पुरीम् के विशेष्य-अप्पोजिशन (apposition)

• रावणस्य: of Ravana
• रावणस्य: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी (Gen./6th), एकवचन (sg.)

• दुरात्मनः: of the evil-minded one
• दुरात्मनः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of रावणस्य (genitive apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dur-ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी (Gen./6th), एकवचन (sg.); बहुव्रीहि: दुष्टः आत्मा यस्य (one whose soul is evil)

Context

"Evil minded Ravana's city of Lanka is shining with moats and missiles of many kinds and machinery."

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā
• Rāvaṇa
• parikhā (moats)
• śataghnī (weapon/engine)
• yantra (machines)

FAQs

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

The verse contrasts external splendor and military power with inner character: adharma can be well-armed and impressive, yet remains morally flawed—power is not the same as righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

Laṅkā’s defensive and offensive implements are summarized while explicitly marking Rāvaṇa’s unethical nature.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral discernment—judging leadership not by grandeur and weapons but by adherence to dharma and satya.