Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 42, Shloka 39

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

Devanagari script

शङ्खदुन्दुभिसंघुष्टःसिम्हनादस्तरस्विनाम् ।पृथिवींचान्तरिक्षंचसागरंचैवनादयन् ।।।।

Transliteration

śaṅkha-dundubhi-saṅghuṣṭaḥ siṃhanādas tarasvinām |

pṛthivīṃ cāntarikṣaṃ ca sāgaraṃ caiva nādayan ||

Translation

Kasabay ng pag-ugong ng mga kabibe at ng dagundong ng mga tambol, ang leon na sigaw ng mga makapangyarihan ay nagpayanig sa lupa at sa himpapawid—pati na rin sa dagat.

Word by Word

• śaṅkha-dundubhi-saṅghuṣṭaḥ: loud with conches and drums
• śaṅkha-dundubhi-saṅghuṣṭaḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaṅkha (प्रातिपदिक) + dundubhi (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅghuṣṭa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; PPP of sam-√ghuṣ; siṃhanādaḥ-viśeṣaṇa; English: 'made loud by conches and drums'

• siṃha-nādaḥ: lion-like roar
• siṃha-nādaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siṃha (प्रातिपदिक) + nāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; English: 'lion-roar'

• tarasvinām: of the mighty
• tarasvinām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tarasvin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; English: 'of the mighty/impetuous ones'

• pṛthivīm: the earth
• pṛthivīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛthivī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; English: 'earth'

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय; English: 'and'

• antarikṣam: the sky
• antarikṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antarikṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; English: 'sky/atmosphere'

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय; English: 'and'

• sāgaram: the ocean
• sāgaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāgara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; English: 'ocean'

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय; English: 'and'

• eva: indeed
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (particle of emphasis); English: 'indeed/just'

• nādayan: resounding
• nādayan: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nad (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; causative sense 'making resound'; agrees with siṃhanādaḥ; English: 'resounding (making ... resound)'

Context

By the blast of conchs and roll of drums, and roar of lions of Vanara and Rakshasa forces it resounded all over the earth, sky and up to the ocean.

Characters & Entities

• Conches (śaṅkha)
• Drums (dundubhi)
• Earth
• Sky
• Ocean

FAQs

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

The verse portrays the solemn, almost ritual dimension of war: when undertaken for dharma, even martial sounds become signs of collective duty and resolve.

What is the narrative situation?

War instruments and battle-roars rise together, amplifying the scale of the impending clash.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vīrya (valor) and dhairya (steadfastness), expressed through fearless proclamation.