Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 38, Shloka 16

सुवेलारोहणम्

The Ascent of Suvela and the First Full View of Laṅkā

Devanagari script

प्राकारवरसंस्थैश्चतथानीलैश्चराक्षसैः ।।।।ददृशुस्तेहरिश्रेष्ठाःप्राकारमपरंकृतम् ।

Transliteration

prākāravarasaṁsthaiś ca tathā nīlaiś ca rākṣasaiḥ |

dadṛśus te hariśreṣṭhāḥ prākāram aparaṁ kṛtam ||6.38.16||

Translation

Nakita ng mga pinakadakila sa vanara ang maiitim na rākṣasa na nakapuwesto sa mahuhusay na kuta—na wari’y isa pang buhay na pader ng tanggulan.

Word by Word

• प्राकारवरसंस्थैः: by those stationed on excellent ramparts
• प्राकारवरसंस्थैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राकार + वर + संस्थ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √स्था)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (locative/association sense): प्राकारवरे संस्थाः; पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

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

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (adverb of manner)

• नीलैः: by dark/black (ones)
• नीलैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

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

• राक्षसैः: by Rakshasas
• राक्षसैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ददृशुः: saw
• ददृशुः: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद

• ते: they
• ते: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• हरिश्रेष्ठाः: the best of the Vanaras
• हरिश्रेष्ठाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: हरीणां श्रेष्ठाः; पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• प्राकारम्: rampart
• प्राकारम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• अपरम्: another
• अपरम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• कृतम्: made/constructed
• कृतम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √कृ)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

Context

The best of vanaras saw dark coloured rakshasas who stood like another boundary in a row.

Characters & Entities

• Rākṣasas
• Laṅkā (implied)
• Ramparts (prākāra)

FAQs

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

Dharma requires sober realism: recognizing the organized resistance of adharma helps the righteous side prepare without arrogance or negligence.

What is the narrative situation?

The vanaras observe Laṅkā’s defenses and the rākṣasa guards arrayed in formation, emphasizing the city’s readiness for battle.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Strategic awareness—careful evaluation of defenses before engagement.