HomeRamayanaYuddha KandaSarga 3Shloka 16
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Shloka 16

लङ्कादुर्गवर्णनम्

Description of Lanka’s Fortifications and Forces

द्वारेषुतासांचत्वारस्सङ्क्रमाःपरमायताः ।यन्त्रैरुपेताबहुभिर्महद्भिर्गृहपङ्क्तिभिः ।।।।

dvāreṣu tāsāṃ catvāraḥ saṅkramāḥ paramāyatāḥ | yantrair upetā bahubhir mahadbhir gṛhapaṅktibhiḥ ||

ان کے دروازوں پر چار نہایت طویل گذرگاہیں/پل تھے، جن میں بہت سے بڑے بڑے یانتروں (میکانکی آلات) کی ترکیب تھی، اور ان کے پہلوؤں میں عظیم عمارتوں کی قطاریں تھیں۔

सर्वतःon all sides
सर्वतः:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण/extent)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसर्वतः (अव्यय)
Formदेशवाचक अव्यय (adverb: 'on all sides')
and
:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयार्थक निपात
महाभीमाःvery dreadful
महाभीमाः:
Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootमहा + भीम (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying परिखाः); कर्मधारय (अतिभीमाः)
शीततोयवहाःcarrying cold water
शीततोयवहाः:
Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootशीत + तोय + वह (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying परिखाः); षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-प्रायः: 'carrying cold water'
शुभाःsplendid
शुभाः:
Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootशुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying परिखाः)
अगाधाःunfathomable, very deep
अगाधाः:
Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootअगाध (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying परिखाः)
ग्राहवत्यःhaving crocodiles
ग्राहवत्यः:
Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootग्राहवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying परिखाः)
and
:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयार्थक निपात
परिखाःmoats
परिखाः:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootपरिखा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन
मीनसेविताःinhabited by fish
मीनसेविताः:
Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootमीन + सेवित (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; क्त (PPP) विशेषण; तृतीया-तत्पुरुष (मीनैः सेविताः = inhabited by fish)

At the entrance of the gateways around the moats are four road ways. Huge engines are fixed to move the bridges when people approach. There are rows of houses (for the guards) at the gateways.

L
Laṅkā
D
dvāra (gateways)
Y
yantra (mechanical devices)

FAQs

Dharma is reflected as disciplined protection of a city: organized defenses and controlled access indicate a social duty to maintain order and safety.

A tactical description is being given of how Laṅkā’s entrances are structured and guarded, highlighting engineered control points.

Foresight—recognizing that strong defenses rely on planning, mechanisms, and disciplined guarding.