Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 26

Śrī Rāmacandra-avatāra — Vow, Exile, Laṅkā-vijaya, and Rāma-rājya

Concise Bhāgavata Account

Devanagari script

हा हता: स्म वयं नाथ लोकरावण रावण । कं यायाच्छरणं लङ्का त्वद्विहीना परार्दिता ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

hā hatāḥ sma vayaṁ nātha loka-rāvaṇa rāvaṇa kaṁ yāyāc charaṇaṁ laṅkā tvad-vihīnā parārditā

Translation

噢，我的主！您曾让世人哭泣，因此被称为罗波那（Rāvaṇa）。但现在我们也被击败了。没有了您，被敌人征服的兰卡还能向谁寻求庇护呢？

Synonyms

• हा: alas!
• हा: सम्बोधन/उद्गार (Vocative/Exclamation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हा (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्गार (interjection)

• हताः: destroyed
• हताः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √हन् (धातु) + क्त
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘slain/ruined’

• स्म: indeed
• स्म: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्म (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) — emphasis/recall

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• नाथ: O lord!
• नाथ: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• लोकरावण: O scourge of the world
• लोकरावण: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक + रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (loka-rāvaṇa = ‘ravisher/tormentor of the world’)

• रावण: O Rāvaṇa
• रावण: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• कम्: whom
• कम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• यायात्: should go
• यायात्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √या (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• लङ्का: Laṅkā
• लङ्का: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लङ्का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• त्वत्-विहीना: bereft of you
• त्वत्-विहीना: कर्तृविशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्वत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + विहीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; पञ्चमी-तत्पुरुष (tvad-vihīnā = ‘deprived of you’)

• परार्दिता: severely afflicted
• परार्दिता: कर्तृविशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर + √अर्द् (धातु) + क्त
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘greatly afflicted’

Purport

Rāvaṇa’s wife Mandodarī and the other wives knew very well how cruel a person Rāvaṇa was. The very word “Rāvaṇa” means “one who causes crying for others.” Rāvaṇa continuously caused trouble for others, but when his sinful activities culminated in giving trouble to Sītādevī, he was killed by Lord Rāmacandra.

Characters & Entities

• Ravana
• Lanka

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam teach about taking shelter in worldly power?

This verse shows the fragility of material shelter: when the powerful protector (Rāvaṇa) is gone, even a great kingdom like Laṅkā feels helpless—implying true refuge is not ultimately found in worldly strength.

Why are the women of Laṅkā speaking this lament to Rāvaṇa?

They grieve after his death, remembering him as their protector and fearing enemy attack; their words reflect the immediate social and political collapse felt when an unrighteous ruler is removed.

How can this verse be applied in modern life?

It cautions against building one’s security solely on people, position, or power; cultivate steadier inner refuge through dharma, devotion, and reliance on the Supreme rather than temporary supports.