Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 53, Shloka 7

युद्धकाण्डे त्रिपञ्चाशः सर्गः — धूम्राक्षवधश्रवणं, वज्रदंष्ट्रप्रेषणं, अङ्गद-राक्षसयुद्धम्

Ravana Dispatches Vajradamshtra; Portents and Angada’s Assault

Devanagari script

पताकालङ्कृतंदीप्तंतप्तकाञ्चनभूषितम् ।रथंप्रदक्षिणंकृत्वासमारोहच्चमूपतिः ।।।।

Transliteration

patākālaṅkṛtaṃ dīptaṃ taptakāñcanabhūṣitam |

rathaṃ pradakṣiṇaṃ kṛtvā samārohat camūpatiḥ ||6.53.7||

Translation

لشکر کے سالار نے جھنڈے سے آراستہ، تاباں اور تپتے سونے کے زیوروں سے مزین اپنے رتھ کا دائیں جانب سے ادباً طواف کیا، پھر اس پر سوار ہوا۔

Word by Word

• पताकालङ्कृतम्: decorated with flags
• पताकालङ्कृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पताका (प्रातिपदिक) + अलङ्कृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—पताकाभिः अलङ्कृतम् (adorned with flags)

• दीप्तम्: shining
• दीप्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP used adjectivally), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; रथम् इति विशेषणम्

• तप्तकाञ्चनभूषितम्: adorned with polished gold
• तप्तकाञ्चनभूषितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + काञ्चन (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—तप्तकाञ्चनेन भूषितम् (adorned with heated/polished gold)

• रथम्: chariot
• रथम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• प्रदक्षिणम्: clockwise
• प्रदक्षिणम्: Manner (रीति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रदक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverbial accusative), 'clockwise/keeping to the right'

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund), 'having done/made'

• समारोहत्: mounted, ascended
• समारोहत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-रुह् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• चमूपतिः: the army-commander
• चमूपतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चमू (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—चम्वाः पतिः (lord of the army)

Context

The general went ascending the chariot shining with well polished shining gold, decked with flags after going around clockwise.

Characters & Entities

• ratha (chariot)
• patākā (flags/banners)

FAQs

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

Dharma here appears as disciplined conduct before action: the commander performs an auspicious, respectful pradakṣiṇā, suggesting that even in war one should act with reverence, order, and self-control rather than impulsiveness.

What is the narrative situation?

On the battlefield sequence, a military leader prepares to engage by mounting a splendid, bannered chariot after performing a clockwise circumambulation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Military decorum and steadiness—readiness for duty combined with ritual propriety (maryādā) before entering combat.