Shloka 55

लङ्कादाह-प्रचोदनं तथा वानर-राक्षस-समरारम्भः

The Burning of Lanka and the Outbreak of Battle

Devanagari script

पताकाध्वजसंसक्तमुत्तमासिपरश्वधम् ।भीमाश्वरथमातङ्गंनानापततिसमाकुलम् ।।।।दीप्तशूलगदाखडगप्रासतोमरकार्मुकम् ।तद्राक्षसबलंघोरभीमंविक्रमपौरुषम् ।।।।ददृशेज्वलितप्रासंकिङ्किणीशतनादितम् ।हेमजालाचितभुजंव्यावेष्टितपरश्वथम् ।।।।व्याघूर्णितमहाशस्त्रंबाणसंसक्तकार्मुकम् ।गन्धमाल्यमधूत्सेकसम्मोदितमहानिलम् ।।।।

Transliteration

patākādhvajasaṃsaktam uttamāsiparaśvadhām |

bhīmāśvarathamātaṅgaṃ nānāpatatisamākulam ||

dīptaśūlagadākhaḍgaprāsatomarakārmukam |

tad rākṣasabalaṃ ghoraṃ bhīmaṃ vikramapauruṣam ||

dadṛśe jvalitaprāsaṃ kiṅkiṇīśatanāditam |

hemajālācitabhujaṃ vyāveṣṭitaparaśvadhām ||

vyāghūrṇitamahāśastraṃ bāṇasaṃsaktakārmukam |

gandhamālyamadhūtsekasammoditam ahānilam ||

Translation

Bấy giờ đạo binh La-sát hiện ra—ghê gớm, hùng cường—dày đặc cờ phướn và kỳ hiệu; trang bị gươm báu và búa chiến; đầy những chiến xa, ngựa dữ, voi lớn, lại chen chúc vô số bộ binh. Toàn quân rực sáng với đinh ba, chùy, kiếm, lao, thương, giáo và cung; dũng lực và oai phong thật đáng sợ. Thấy những phi tiêu sáng loáng, tiếng leng keng của trăm chuông vang dội; cánh tay trang sức lưới vàng, búa được vung lên, đại binh khí xoáy lộng, cung đã gài tên—trong khi gió mạnh mang theo hương vòng hoa và hương liệu.

Word by Word

• patākā-dhvaja-saṃsaktam: adorned/attached with flags and banners
• patākā-dhvaja-saṃsaktam: Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: patākā (प्रातिपदिक) + dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃsakta (संसज् धातोः क्त कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण तत्/बलम्; समासः—तत्पुरुष (patākā-dhvajaiḥ saṃsaktam = attached with flags and banners)

• uttama-āsi-paraśvadham: with excellent swords and axes
• uttama-āsi-paraśvadham: Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक) + asi (प्रातिपदिक) + paraśvadha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण बलम्; समासः—द्वन्द्व (asi + paraśvadha) with qualifier uttama

• bhīma-aśva-ratha-mātaṅgam: with formidable horses, chariots, and elephants
• bhīma-aśva-ratha-mātaṅgam: Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhīma (प्रातिपदिक) + aśva (प्रातिपदिक) + ratha (प्रातिपदिक) + mātaṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण बलम्; समासः—द्वन्द्व (aśva+ratha+mātaṅga) with qualifier bhīma

• nānā-patati-samākulam: crowded with various foot-soldiers
• nānā-patati-samākulam: Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nānā (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + patati (प्रातिपदिक ‘foot-soldier/infantry’) + samākula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण बलम्; समासः—तत्पुरुष (nānā-vidhaiḥ patatibhiḥ samākulam = crowded with various infantry)

• dīpta-śūla-gadā-khaḍga-prāsa-tomara-kārmukam: with shining tridents, maces, swords, spears, lances, and bows
• dīpta-śūla-gadā-khaḍga-prāsa-tomara-kārmukam: Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīpta (दीप् धातोः क्त कृदन्त) + śūla+gadā+khaḍga+prāsa+tomara+kārmuka (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण बलम्; समासः—द्वन्द्व (weapons list) with qualifier dīpta (shining)

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अत्र द्वितीया—बलम् इत्यस्य विशेषण (that)

• rākṣasa-balam: Rakshasa army
• rākṣasa-balam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (rākṣasānām balam)

• ghora-bhīmam: terrific and dreadful
• ghora-bhīmam: Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक) + bhīma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण बलम्; समासः—कर्मधारय

• vikrama-pauruṣam: (full of) valor and prowess
• vikrama-pauruṣam: Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vikrama (प्रातिपदिक) + pauruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण बलम्; समासः—द्वन्द्व (vikrama + pauruṣa = valor and prowess)

• dadṛśe: was seen/appeared
• dadṛśe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• jvalita-prāsam: with blazing spears
• jvalita-prāsam: Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jvalita (ज्वल् धातोः क्त कृदन्त) + prāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण बलम्; समासः—कर्मधारय

• kiṅkiṇī-śata-nāditam: resounding with hundreds of bells
• kiṅkiṇī-śata-nāditam: Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kiṅkiṇī (प्रातिपदिक) + śata (प्रातिपदिक) + nādita (नद् धातोः क्त कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण बलम्; समासः—तत्पुरुष (kiṅkiṇī-śataiḥ nāditam = resounding with hundreds of bells)

• hema-jāla-ācita-bhujam: with arms adorned with gold-net (ornaments)
• hema-jāla-ācita-bhujam: Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hema (प्रातिपदिक) + jāla (प्रातिपदिक) + ācita (चि धातोः क्त कृदन्त) + bhuja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण बलम्; समासः—तत्पुरुष (hema-jālena ācitāḥ bhujāḥ yasya = whose arms are adorned with a net of gold)

• vyāveṣṭita-paraśvadham: equipped with axes
• vyāveṣṭita-paraśvadham: Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vy-ā-√veṣṭ (धातु) क्त कृदन्त ‘vyāveṣṭita’ + paraśvadha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण बलम्; समासः—तत्पुरुष (paraśvadhaiḥ vyāveṣṭitam = equipped/encircled with axes)

• vyāghūrṇita-mahā-śastram: brandishing great weapons
• vyāghūrṇita-mahā-śastram: Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vy-ā-√ghūrṇ (धातु) क्त कृदन्त ‘vyāghūrṇita’ + mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + śastra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण बलम्; समासः—कर्मधारय (mahā-śastraṃ vyāghūrṇitam = brandishing great weapons)

• bāṇa-saṃsakta-kārmukam: with bows fitted with arrows
• bāṇa-saṃsakta-kārmukam: Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃsakta (संसज् धातोः क्त) + kārmuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण बलम्; समासः—तत्पुरुष (bāṇaiḥ saṃsaktaṃ kārmukaṃ yasya = with bows fitted with arrows)

• gandha-mālya-madhu-utseka-sammodita-mahā-anilam: with the great breeze made fragrant/joyful by perfumes, garlands, and abundant sweet scents
• gandha-mālya-madhu-utseka-sammodita-mahā-anilam: Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gandha (प्रातिपदिक) + mālya (प्रातिपदिक) + madhu (प्रातिपदिक) + utseka (प्रातिपदिक) + sammodita (सम्+मुद् धातोः क्त) + mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + anila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण बलम्; समासः—तत्पुरुष (gandha-mālya-madhu-utsekena sammoditaḥ mahān anilaḥ yasmin = where the great wind is gladdened/fragrant due to perfumes, garlands, and abundant honey/sweet offerings)

Context

Then the Rakshasa army appeared terrific, fixed with flags and poles, equipped with best of axes, horses yoked to formidable chariots and elephants different kinds of foot soldiers, distinguished by wielding shining tridents, maces, swords spears and lances warriors of frightening valour and prowess holding shining barbed missiles hundreds of tiny bells tied to the chariots and elephants making noise warriors endowed with arms decorated with gold, with axes and weapons to pierce arrows fixed to the bows, with an abundance of fragrance.

Characters & Entities

• Rākṣasa army
• chariots
• horses
• elephants
• swords
• bows
• arrows
• wind

FAQs

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

Dharma is contrasted with intimidation: the army’s terrifying display shows how power can be used to overwhelm. The Ramayana repeatedly implies that true righteousness is not mere might, but restrained and principled use of strength.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator presents a detailed visual catalogue of the Rākṣasa forces—standards, troops, weapons, noise, and splendor—at the height of the night confrontation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

On the surface, martial prowess; ethically, the scene sets up the need for the opposing side’s steadiness and self-control—courage that does not collapse before spectacle.