Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 42, Shloka 33

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

Devanagari script

एतच्छ्रुत्वाततोवाक्यंरावणस्यमुखोद्गतम् ।सहसाभीमनिर्घोषमुद्घुष्टंरजनीचरैः ।।।।

Transliteration

etac chrutvā tato vākyaṃ rāvaṇasya mukhodgatam | sahasā bhīmanirghoṣam udghuṣṭaṃ rajanīcaraiḥ ||

Translation

Nang marinig nila ang mga salitang yaon na lumabas sa bibig ni Rāvaṇa, ang mga nilalang ng gabi ay biglang nagtaas ng nakapanghihilakbot na sigaw.

Word by Word

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; English: 'this'

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund); English: 'having heard'

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय; English: 'then/thereupon'

• vākyam: command
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; English: 'speech/command'

• rāvaṇasya: of Ravana
• rāvaṇasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; English: 'of Ravana'

• mukha-udgatam: uttered from (his) mouth
• mukha-udgatam: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mukha (प्रातिपदिक) + udgata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (पञ्चमी/अधिकरण-भाव); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; PPP of ud-√gam; English: 'issued from the mouth'

• sahasā: suddenly
• sahasā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sahasā (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय; English: 'suddenly/at once'

• bhīma-nirghoṣam: terrible roar
• bhīma-nirghoṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhīma (प्रातिपदिक) + nirghoṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; English: 'a terrible roar'

• udghuṣṭam: raised (shouted)
• udghuṣṭam: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ud-ghuṣ (धातु) > udghuṣṭa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; PPP of ud-√ghuṣ; English: 'shouted/raised'

• rajanīcaraiḥ: by the night-rangers
• rajanīcaraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rajanīcara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; English: 'by the night-rangers (Rakshasas)'

Context

Hearing the command issued from Ravana's mouth, immediately a terrific roar was raised by the night rangers.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Rajanīcara (Rākṣasas)

FAQs

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

The verse spotlights disciplined responsiveness to command; ethically, it invites reflection that obedience gains value only when aligned with satya and dharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa’s order triggers immediate reaction across the Rākṣasa ranks, marked by a collective battle-cry.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Cohesion and readiness—though directed here by an unrighteous leader, illustrating the power of organized command.