Shloka 24

युद्धलक्षण-निमित्तदर्शनं तथा लङ्काद्वारव्यूहः

War Omens and the Encirclement of Lanka’s Gates

Devanagari script

अवतीर्यचधर्मात्मातस्माच्छैलात्सराघवः ।परैःपरमदुर्धर्षंददर्शबलमात्मनः ।।6.41.24।।

Transliteration

avatīrya ca dharmātmā tasmāc chailāt sa rāghavaḥ | paraiḥ paramadurdharṣaṁ dadarśa balam ātmanaḥ ||

Translation

اس پہاڑ سے اتر کر دھرماتما رाघو نے اپنی ہی فوج کا جائزہ لیا—جو دشمنوں کے لیے نہایت ہی ناقابلِ برداشت اور سخت جان تھی۔

Word by Word

• avatīrya: having descended
• avatīrya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava+tṝ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय, ल्यप् form) from √tṝ with ava-; avyaya-kṛdanta (indeclinable participle)

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

• dharmātmā: righteous-souled
• dharmātmā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma+ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; bahuvrīhi: dharmaḥ ātmā yasya (whose nature is righteous)

• tasmāt: from that (place)
• tasmāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Pañcamī (Ablative), Ekavacana

• śailāt: from the mountain
• śailāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Pañcamī, Ekavacana

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• rāghavaḥ: Raghava (Rama)
• rāghavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; apposition to 'saḥ'

• paraiḥ: by enemies; by others
• paraiḥ: Karaṇa/Pratiyogin (करण/प्रतियोगिन्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• parama-dur-dharṣam: extremely unassailable
• parama-dur-dharṣam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama+dur+dharṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of 'balam'; samāsa: paramaṃ ca durdharṣaṃ ca (very hard to assail)

• dadarśa: saw; beheld; reviewed
• dadarśa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ lakāra (Perfect/लिट्), Prathama puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana, parasmaipada

• balam: army; strength
• balam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• ātmanaḥ: of his own
• ātmanaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (Genitive/षष्ठी), Ekavacana

Context

Climbing down the mountain, the righteous Rama reviewed in his mind the strength of his army and the enemy which is difficult to assail.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Rāghava)
• Army (Vānara host implied)
• Enemies (Rākṣasas implied)

FAQs

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

Rajadharma: responsible leadership includes assessing resources and risks before engaging the enemy.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma, preparing for battle, evaluates the capability and readiness of his forces.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Strategic prudence—strength guided by reflection rather than impulse.