Shloka 15

लङ्कादुर्गवर्णनम्

Description of Lanka’s Fortifications and Forces

Devanagari script

सर्वतश्चमहाभीमाश्शीततोयवहाश्शुभाः ।अगाधाग्राहवत्यश्चपरिखामीनसेविता ।।।।

Transliteration

sarvataś ca mahābhīmāḥ śītatoyavahāḥ śubhāḥ | agādhā grāhavatyaś ca parikhā mīnasevitā ||

Translation

اس کے گرداگرد شاندار خندقیں تھیں—صورت میں نہایت ہیبت ناک—جن میں برف جیسا ٹھنڈا پانی بہتا تھا؛ وہ بے حد گہری تھیں اور ان میں مچھلیاں اور مگرمچھ آباد تھے۔

Word by Word

• सौवर्णः: golden
• सौवर्णः: Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying प्राकारः)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात (particle: 'but/indeed')

• महान्: great, huge
• महान्: Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying प्राकारः)

• तस्याः: of her/of that (city)
• तस्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• प्राकारः: rampart, wall
• प्राकारः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• दुष्प्रधर्षणः: hard to assault
• दुष्प्रधर्षणः: Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुस् + प्रधर्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying प्राकारः); कर्मधारय (दुष्प्रधर्षणः = difficult to assail)

• मणीविद्रुमवैदूर्यमुक्ताविरचितान्तरः: inlaid within with gems, coral, vaidurya and pearls
• मणीविद्रुमवैदूर्यमुक्ताविरचितान्तरः: Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मणि + विद्रुम + वैदूर्य + मुक्त + विरचित + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: (मणि-विद्रुम-वैदूर्य-मुक्ताभिः विरचितम् अन्तरं यस्य) = whose interspaces are inlaid with gems, coral, vaidurya, pearls

Context

All round it (boundary wall) are very splendid moats filled with frightening-cold water inhabited by fish and crocodiles.

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā
• parikhā (moats)
• grāha (crocodiles)
• mīna (fish)

FAQs

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

Dharma here appears as responsible governance and protection: a ruler’s city is defended to safeguard its inhabitants. The verse itself is descriptive, but it frames the moral reality that power must be matched with vigilance and protection.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma’s side is being informed about Laṅkā’s formidable defenses; the moat system is described to assess the difficulty of assault.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and strategic awareness—carefully observing and understanding an opponent’s defenses before acting.