Shloka 27

लङ्कादाह-प्रचोदनं तथा वानर-राक्षस-समरारम्भः

The Burning of Lanka and the Outbreak of Battle

Devanagari script

हर्म्याग्रैर्दह्यमानैश्चज्वालाप्रज्वलितैरपि ।रात्रौसादृश्यतेलङ्कापुष्पितैरिवकिंशुकैः ।।।।

Transliteration

harmyāgrair dahyamānaiś ca jvālāprajvalitair api |

rātrau sādṛśyate laṅkā puṣpitair iva kiṃśukaiḥ ||

Translation

محلات کی چھتیں جلتی اور شعلوں سے بھڑکتی رہیں؛ رات کے اندھیرے میں لنکا یوں دکھائی دیتی تھی گویا وہ کھلے ہوئے کِمشُک کے پھولوں سے ڈھکی ہو۔

Word by Word

• हर्म्य-अग्रैः: with the tops of mansions
• हर्म्य-अग्रैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर्म्य + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; समासः—हर्म्यस्य अग्राणि (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• दह्यमानैः: burning
• दह्यमानैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दह् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शानच्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• ज्वाला-प्रज्वलितैः: blazing with flames
• ज्वाला-प्रज्वलितैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वाला + प्रज्वलित (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण; समासः—ज्वालाभिः प्रज्वलितैः (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• रात्रौ: at night
• रात्रौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरण

• सादृश्यते: appears/looks like
• सादृश्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स-दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• लङ्का: Lanka
• लङ्का: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लङ्का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पुष्पितैः: in bloom
• पुष्पितैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुष्पित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• इव: like
• इव: Upamāna-marker (उपमा-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय

• किंशुकैः: with kimsuka trees
• किंशुकैः: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किंशुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; उपमान-करण

Context

While the tops of dwellings were burning, flames were blazing, and Lanka seemed adorned with Kimsuka blossoms.

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā
• kiṃśuka (Butea monosperma)
• agni (fire)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights a Ramayana theme: beauty without Dharma is deceptive. The city’s ‘flower-like’ appearance is actually destruction—an image of how adharma can masquerade as splendor until truth (satya) reveals its real nature.

What is the narrative situation?

Night falls as fires spread across Laṅkā; the blaze on palace roofs makes the city appear like a landscape of red blossoms.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral clarity—seeing beyond appearances—is implied for the audience: Dharma requires discernment, not being misled by outward glamour.