Shloka 25

लङ्कादुर्गवर्णनम्

Description of Lanka’s Fortifications and Forces

Devanagari script

नियुतंरक्षसामत्रदक्षिणद्वारमाश्रितम् ।चतुरङ्गेणसैन्येनयोधास्तत्राप्यनुत्तमाः ।।।।

Transliteration

niyutaṃ rakṣasām atra dakṣiṇadvāram āśritam | caturaṅgeṇa sainyena yodhās tatrāpy anuttamāḥ ||

Translation

جنوبی دروازے پر بھی راکشسوں کا ایک نیوت (بہت بڑا لشکر) متعین ہے؛ چتورنگی فوج کے سہارے، وہاں کے یودھا بھی بے مثال ہیں۔

Word by Word

• नियुतम्: one hundred thousand
• नियुतम्: Saṅkhyā-viśeṣaṇa (संख्या-विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niyuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक (numeral: one lakh)

• रक्षसाम्: of the rakshasas
• रक्षसाम्: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), षष्ठी (Gen./6th), बहुवचन (pl.)

• अत्र: here/there
• अत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक

• दक्षिणद्वारम्: the southern gate
• दक्षिणद्वारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣiṇa + dvāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Acc./2nd), एकवचन (sg.)

• आश्रितम्: occupied / held
• आश्रितम्: Kriyā (क्रिया) (participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√śri (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle), क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन (sg.); 'occupied/held'

• चतुरङ्गेण: with four divisions
• चतुरङ्गेण: Karaṇa (करण) / Instrumental of accompaniment
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), तृतीया (Instr./3rd), एकवचन (sg.); तत्पुरुष/द्विगु: चत्वारि अङ्गानि यस्य (fourfold)

• सैन्येन: with an army
• सैन्येन: Karaṇa (करण) / Sahacāra (सहचार)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sainya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), तृतीया (Instr./3rd), एकवचन (sg.)

• योधाः: warriors
• योधाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yodha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), बहुवचन (pl.)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक (there)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (also/even)

• अनुत्तमाः: unsurpassed / excellent
• अनुत्तमाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of योधाः
• Type: Adjective
• Root: an-uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), बहुवचन (pl.); नञ्-पूर्वक (not surpassed)

Context

At the western gate are garrisoned ten lakhs of rakshasas wearing shields of skin and holding swords. They are knowledgeable in several weapons.

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Dharma in warfare includes sober recognition of danger. Accurate enumeration discourages arrogance and promotes careful, duty-bound planning rather than rash violence.

What is the narrative situation?

The scout continues listing Laṅkā’s gate defenses, now describing the southern gate’s large, well-organized forces.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Strategic prudence—valuing organization and realism while preparing to uphold righteousness.