Shloka 9

लङ्कादाह-प्रचोदनं तथा वानर-राक्षस-समरारम्भः

The Burning of Lanka and the Outbreak of Battle

Devanagari script

क्षौमं च दह्यतेतत्रकौशेयंचापिशोभनं ।।।।आविकंविविधंचौर्णंकाञ्चनंभाण्डमायुधम् ।

Transliteration

kṣaumaṃ ca dahyate tatra kauśeyaṃ cāpi śobhanam |

āvikaṃ vividhaṃ ca ūrṇaṃ kāñcanaṃ bhāṇḍam āyudham ||

Translation

وہاں کتان کے کپڑے اور نفیس ریشمی پوشاکیں جل رہی تھیں؛ طرح طرح کی اون اور کمبل، سونے کے ذخیرے اور صندوق، بلکہ ہتھیار تک آگ کی نذر ہو گئے۔

Word by Word

• kṣaumaṃ: linen cloth
• kṣaumaṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣauma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय; conjunction "and"

• dahyate: is burnt
• dahyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dah (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Present, Passive, 3rd person singular

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय; adverb of place "there"

• kauśeyaṃ: silk cloth
• kauśeyaṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kauśeya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय; conjunction

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; particle "also/even"

• śobhanam: beautiful
• śobhanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śobhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular; विशेषणम् (qualifier)

• āvikam: woollen (blanket/cloth)
• āvikam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āvika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• vividham: various
• vividham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vividha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular; विशेषणम्

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय; conjunction

• aurṇam: woollen cloth
• aurṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aurṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• kāñcanam: gold (golden items)
• kāñcanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāñcana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• bhāṇḍam: vessel/utensil
• bhāṇḍam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• āyudham: weapon
• āyudham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āyudha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Context

Their white linen and beautiful silks were burnt. Nay, even several blankets of wool, chests and weapons were also burnt.

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā
• Kāñcana (gold)
• Āyudha (weapons)

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that possessions and military power are ultimately perishable; dharma and satya are the true safeguards, not wealth, arms, or luxury.

What is the narrative situation?

Continuing the depiction of destruction in Laṅkā, listing textiles, valuables, and armaments being burned amid the conflict.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

A reflective moral lens rather than a personal virtue: it points the audience toward humility and non-attachment in the face of inevitable loss.