Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 37, Shloka 14

लङ्काद्वारव्यूहवर्णनम् / Disposition at the Gates of Lanka

Devanagari script

विरूपाक्षस्तुमहताशूलखडगधनुष्मता ।बलेनराक्षसैस्सार्थंमध्यमंगुल्ममास्थितः ।।।।

Transliteration

virūpākṣas tu mahatā śūlakhaḍgadhanuṣmatā | balena rākṣasaiḥ sārthaṃ madhyamaṃ gulmam āsthitaḥ ||

Translation

ویروپاکش نیز، نیزوں، تلواروں اور کمانوں سے مسلح عظیم لشکر کے ساتھ، راکشسوں کی جماعت سمیت شہر کے اندر درمیانی محاذ پر متعین تھا۔

Word by Word

• विरूपाक्षः: Virūpākṣa
• विरूपाक्षः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: virūpākṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तु: and, indeed
• तु: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विशेष/विरोधार्थक

• महता: with a great
• महता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुल्लिङ्ग; तृतीया, एकवचन; बलेन इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (‘with a great’)

• शूलखडगधनुष्मता: with spear-, sword-, and bow-bearing (troops)
• शूलखडगधनुष्मता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śūla + khaḍga + dhanuṣmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समाससमाहार + मतुप्/मत्वर्थ (धनुष्मत्); तृतीया, एकवचन; बलेन इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (‘with spear-sword-bow-armed (force)’)

• बलेन: with an army
• बलेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया, एकवचन

• राक्षसैः: with rākṣasas
• राक्षसैः: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; तृतीया, बहुवचन

• सार्थम्: together with
• सार्थम्: Sahārtha (सहार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sārtham (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक (in company with)

• मध्यमम्: middle
• मध्यमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: madhyama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; गुल्मम् इति विशेषणम्

• गुल्मम्: troop-division, battalion
• गुल्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gulma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (प्रयोगे नपुंसकवत्); द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आस्थितः: occupied, held position
• आस्थितः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-sthā (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; पुल्लिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

"Virupaksha stands in the middle of Lanka wielding spears, swords, bows and arrows accompanied by mighty army."

Characters & Entities

• Virūpākṣa
• Rākṣasas
• Laṅkā (city implied)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights organized force; Dharma teaching emerges by contrast: organization is powerful, but righteousness depends on the cause it serves.

What is the narrative situation?

A major Rākṣasa commander (Virūpākṣa) is stationed in the city’s central battle formation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Military organization and steadfast positioning.