Shloka 10

अतिकायवधश्रवणं रावणस्य लङ्कारक्षाविधानम्

Ravana’s Reaction to Atikaya’s Death and the Fortification Orders for Lanka

Devanagari script

अहोसुबलवान् रामोमहदस्त्रबलं च वै ।।।।यस्यविक्रममासाद्यराक्षसानिधनंगताः ।

Transliteration

aho subalavān rāmo mahad astrabalaṁ ca vai | yasya vikramam āsādya rākṣasā nidhanaṁ gatāḥ ||

Translation

“Ôi, Rāma thật hùng mạnh, và uy lực của thần khí quả thật lớn lao! Đối diện dũng mãnh của Người, bọn rākṣasa đã đi đến diệt vong.”

Word by Word

• apramattaiḥ: by the vigilant
• apramattaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-pramatta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √mad मद्)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); 'by the vigilant'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• sarvatra: everywhere
• sarvatra: Deśa (देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of place (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• guptaiḥ: by guards/hidden (troops)
• guptaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gupta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √gup गुप्)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); 'by the guarded/secretly posted'

• rakṣyā: to be protected
• rakṣyā: Kriyā-sādhya (क्रियासाध्य/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rakṣya (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √rakṣ रक्ष्)
• Form: Gerundive (तव्यत्/यत्-अर्थ), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicate adjective of purī

• purī: city
• purī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• vat: like/as
• vat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vat (अव्यय/तुल्यवाचक)
• Form: Comparative particle (उपमा-अव्यय)

• iyam: this
• iyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• aśoka-vanikāyām: in the Ashoka grove
• aśoka-vanikāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśoka + vanikā (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: aśokasya vanikā = 'Ashoka-grove'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Relative adverb (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• sītā: Sita
• sītā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• abhirakṣyate: is guarded
• abhirakṣyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√rakṣ रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); passive-like sense 'is guarded'

Context

"Rama's valour is great; the strength of his missiles is great, and his valour is formidable. Rakshasas can't stand his range."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Satya: even an adversary must acknowledge truth—Rāma’s righteous power is undeniable, and denial only deepens ruin.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa, shaken by losses, openly recognizes Rāma’s might and the fatal impact of facing him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s vīrya and astrabala (martial prowess and weapon-mastery) are highlighted—even by the enemy.