Shloka 1

लङ्काप्राकारारोहणम् / Assault on Lanka’s Ramparts and the Opening Clash

Devanagari script

ततस्तेराक्षसास्तत्रगत्वारावणमन्दिरम् ।न्यवेदयन्पुरींरुद्धांरामेणसहवानरैः ।।।।

Transliteration

tatas te rākṣasās tatra gatvā rāvaṇamandiram |

nyavedayan purīṃ ruddhāṃ rāmeṇa saha vānaraiḥ ||

Translation

تب وہ راکشس وہاں سے روانہ ہو کر راون کے محل میں گئے اور عرض کیا کہ رام وانروں سمیت شہر کو گھیر کر روک چکا ہے اور اسے اپنے قبضے میں لے لیا ہے۔

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (kāla/krama-vācaka)

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• rākṣasāḥ: Rakshasas
• rākṣasāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, deśa-vācaka adverb

• gatvā: having gone
• gatvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: Gerund/absolutive (क्त्वा), avyaya

• rāvaṇa-mandiram: Ravana's palace
• rāvaṇa-mandiram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa + mandira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: rāvaṇasya mandiram

• nyavedayan: informed
• nyavedayan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni√vid (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्/laṅ), 3rd person, Plural, Parasmaipada; causative sense in usage: 'reported/informed'

• purīm: the city
• purīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• ruddhām: besieged/blocked
• ruddhām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √rudh (धातु) > ruddha (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Feminine, Accusative, Singular; agrees with purīm

• rāmeṇa: by Rama
• rāmeṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, sahārtha particle; governs Instrumental

• vānaraiḥ: with the Vanaras
• vānaraiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

Context

Then the Rakshasas proceeding to Ravana's abode informed that Rama along with the vanaras have occupied the whole of Lanka.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Rāvaṇa
• Laṅkā
• Vānara army
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Dharma here appears as truthful reporting and responsibility within governance: messengers convey the real situation to the king, enabling accountable decision-making rather than denial or deception.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma and the vānaras have effectively surrounded/occupied Laṅkā; rākṣasa subordinates rush to Rāvaṇa’s residence to announce the breach and siege.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Satya (truthfulness) and institutional duty: the act of accurately informing the ruler, even when the news is alarming.