Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 28, Shloka 33

शुकवाक्यं (Śuka’s Report on the Vānara Host) / Śuka Describes the Allied Forces to Rāvaṇa

Devanagari script

शतंशतसहस्राणांकोटिमाहुर्मनीषिणः ।शतंकोटिसहस्राणांशङ्कु: इत्यभिधीयते ।।6.28.33।।

Transliteration

śataṃ śatasahasrāṇāṃ koṭim āhur manīṣiṇaḥ |

śataṃ koṭisahasrāṇāṃ śaṅkur ity abhidhīyate ||6.28.33||

Translation

دانشمند کہتے ہیں کہ ایک لاکھ کو سو گنا کیا جائے تو اسے ‘کوٹی’ کہتے ہیں؛ اور ہزار کوٹی کو سو گنا کیا جائے تو اسے ‘شنکو’ کے نام سے پکارا جاتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• शतम्: a hundred
• शतम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (sg.); संख्यावाचक-नाम (numeral)

• शतसहस्राणाम्: of hundred-thousands (100,000s)
• शतसहस्राणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक) + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Gen./6th), बहुवचन (pl.); द्विगु-समासः (numeral compound): शतं सहस्राणि = 100,000

• कोटिम्: a koṭi (crore)
• कोटिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc./2nd), एकवचन (sg.)

• आहुः: they say
• आहुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perf.), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन (pl.), परस्मैपद

• मनीषिणः: wise men
• मनीषिणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनीषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom./1st), बहुवचन (pl.)

• शतम्: a hundred
• शतम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (sg.); संख्यावाचक-नाम (numeral)

• कोटिसहस्राणाम्: of thousand-koṭis
• कोटिसहस्राणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक) + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Gen./6th), बहुवचन (pl.); द्विगु-समासः: कोटि-सहस्राणि = 1000 koṭis

• शङ्कुः: (a number called) śaṅku
• शङ्कुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom./1st), एकवचन (sg.)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/निरूपण-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• अभिधीयते: is called
• अभिधीयते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + √धा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Pres.), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg.), आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-भावः (passive/impersonal sense): ‘is called’

Context

"It is said by wise men that hundred thousand crores multiplied by hundred thousand crores as Sankha."

Characters & Entities

• śaṅku

FAQs

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

Dharma supports truthful communication and shared standards of knowledge—clear numeration prevents deception in matters of war and governance.

What is the narrative situation?

A formal explanation of large-number terms is given, likely to quantify forces or convey scale accurately.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Intellectual clarity and precision—using accepted definitions to convey truth (satya) without ambiguity.