Shloka 39

लङ्कानिरीक्षणं व्यूहविन्यासश्च

Survey of Lanka and Deployment of the Battle Formation

Devanagari script

कदातूणीयशैर्दीप्तैर्गणश: कार्मुकच्युतैः ।शरैरादीपयाम्येनमुल्काभिरिवकुञ्जरम् ।।।।

Transliteration

kadā tūṇīyaśair dīptair gaṇaśaḥ kārmukacyutaiḥ |

śarair ādīpayāmy enam ulkābhir iva kuñjaram ||

Translation

Bao giờ ta sẽ thiêu đốt hắn bằng những mũi tên rực sáng—từng loạt phóng ra từ cung—như voi bị hành hạ bởi những đuốc lửa cháy?

Word by Word

• kadā: when
• kadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kadā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न-अव्यय (interrogative adverb of time)

• tūṇīyaśaiḥ: from the quiver
• tūṇīyaśaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tūṇīyaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; विशेषण (of arrows)

• dīptaiḥ: blazing
• dīptaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīpta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; dīp (धातु) + kta)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त

• gaṇaśaḥ: in multitudes
• gaṇaśaḥ: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: gaṇaśas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) = समूहशः/बहुधा

• kārmukacyutaiḥ: shot from the bow
• kārmukacyutaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kārmuka (प्रातिपदिक) + cyuta (कृदन्त; cyu (धातु) + kta)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: कार्मुकात् च्युताः (shot from the bow)

• śaraiḥ: with arrows
• śaraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• ādīpayāmi: I set ablaze / inflame
• ādīpayāmi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dīp (धातु) + ā (उपसर्ग) + ṇic (causative)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद, उत्तम-पुरुष, एकवचन; णिजन्त (causative) = 'cause to blaze/ignite'

• enam: him/this one
• enam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; enclitic pronoun

• ulkābhiḥ: with firebrands
• ulkābhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ulkā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• iva: like
• iva: Upamāna-marker (उपमान-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय

• kuñjaram: an elephant
• kuñjaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuñjara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

Context

"When will the glowing arrows from my quiver, that are fit to pierce in thousands, be able to goad Rama like the burning fire sticks goad the elephants?"

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Rāma (implied by enam/him in context)
• kārmuka (bow)

FAQs

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

Dharma rejects cruelty as a motive; the imagery of torment underscores how adharma delights in pain, whereas righteous combat is governed by necessity and restraint.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa escalates his threats, imagining overwhelming Rāma with volleys of blazing arrows.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The implied virtue is compassion and restraint; Rāvaṇa instead exhibits vindictive ferocity.