Shloka 11

युद्धलक्षण-निमित्तदर्शनं तथा लङ्काद्वारव्यूहः

War Omens and the Encirclement of Lanka’s Gates

Devanagari script

परिगृह्योदकंशीतंवनानिफलवन्तिच ।बलौघंसंविभज्येमंव्यूह्यतिष्ठेमलक्ष्मण ।।6.41.11।।

Transliteration

parigṛhya udakaṃ śītaṃ vanāni phalavanti ca |

balaughaṃ saṃvibhajya imaṃ vyūhya tiṣṭhema lakṣmaṇa ||6.41.11||

Translation

اے لکشمن! آؤ ہم ایسی جگہ ٹھہریں جہاں ٹھنڈا پانی اور پھل دار جنگل ہوں؛ پھر اس لشکرِ انبوہ کو بانٹ کر، صف بندی کر کے، آمادہ و مستعد کھڑے رہیں۔

Word by Word

• parigṛhya: having taken/secured
• parigṛhya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-grah (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्)

• udakam: water
• udakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• śītam: cool
• śītam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śīta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; adjective qualifying ‘udakam’

• vanāni: forests/woods
• vanāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Plural (बहुवचन)

• phalavanti: fruit-bearing
• phalavanti: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: phalavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Plural; adjective qualifying ‘vanāni’

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• balaugham: mass of troops/army-host
• balaugham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक) + ogha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘balasya oghaḥ’; Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• saṃvibhajya: having distributed/divided
• saṃvibhajya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: saṃ-vi-bhaj (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्)

• imam: this
• imam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; demonstrative pronoun (refers to ‘balaugham’)

• vyūhya: having arrayed/formed (in battle order)
• vyūhya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-ūh (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्)

• tiṣṭhema: let us stand/be ready
• tiṣṭhema: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (लोट्/imperative), Parasmaipada, 1st Person (उत्तमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• lakṣmaṇa: O Lakṣmaṇa
• lakṣmaṇa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

Context

To protect the kingdom of Rakshasas, the Rakshasas holding weapons making frightening sounds and shouting, advanced for a great War. It seemed as though it was the end of the universe.।। ityārṣēvālmīkīyēśrīmadrāmāyaṇēādikāvyēyuddhakāṇḍēēkacatvāriṅśassargaḥ ।।This is the end of the forty first sarga of Yuddha Kanda of the first epic the holy Ramayana composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• udaka (water source)

FAQs

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

Dharma in warfare includes responsible logistics and protection of one’s own forces: securing water, food, and order prevents needless suffering and supports righteous conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma instructs Lakṣmaṇa on encampment and battle-readiness just as war becomes imminent.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and care for dependents—Rāma’s duty as commander includes ensuring the army’s welfare and disciplined formation.