Shloka 38

लङ्कानिरीक्षणं व्यूहविन्यासश्च

Survey of Lanka and Deployment of the Battle Formation

Devanagari script

कदासमभिधावन्तिराघवंमामकाश्शराः ।वसन्तेपुष्पितंमत्ताभ्रमराइवपादपम् ।।।।

Transliteration

kadā samabhidhāvanti rāghavaṃ mamakāḥ śarāḥ |

vasante puṣpitaṃ mattā bhramarā iva pādapam ||

Translation

Kailan kaya susugod sa Rāghava ang aking mga palaso, gaya ng mga langong bubuyog na dumadagsa sa punong namumulaklak sa tagsibol?

Word by Word

• kadā: when
• kadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kadā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न-अव्यय (interrogative adverb of time)

• samabhidhāvanti: rush upon/attack
• samabhidhāvanti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhāv (धातु) + sam-abhi (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद, तृतीय-पुरुष, बहुवचन; 'rush/charge upon'

• rāghavam: Rāghava (Rāma)
• rāghavam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• māmakāḥ: my
• māmakāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: māmaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (possessive adjective)

• śarāḥ: arrows
• śarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• vasante: in spring
• vasante: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasanta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• puṣpitam: blossomed
• puṣpitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṣpita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; puṣp (धातु) + kta)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle)

• mattāḥ: intoxicated
• mattāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: matta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• bhramarāḥ: bees
• bhramarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhramara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• iva: like
• iva: Upamāna-marker (उपमान-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• pādapam: a tree
• pādapam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pādapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

Context

"Just as drunken bees reach the trees with blossoms in spring when will my arrows attack Rama?"

Characters & Entities

• Rāghava (Rāma)
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

It cautions that arrogance can masquerade as courage; dharma-based valor is restrained and just, not intoxicated by violence.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa, inflamed with rage, imagines and anticipates striking Rāma with his arrows.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast, the virtue of measured speech and humility is implied; Rāvaṇa displays boastful aggression instead.