Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 19, Shloka 15

विभीषणाभिषेकः

The Consecration of Vibhishana and Counsel on Crossing the Ocean

Devanagari script

दशकोटिसहस्राणिरक्षसांकामरूपिणाम् ।मांसशोणितभक्ष्याणांलङ्कापुरनिवासिनाम् ।।6.19.15।।

Transliteration

daśa-koṭi-sahasrāṇi rakṣasāṃ kāma-rūpiṇām | māṃsa-śoṇita-bhakṣyāṇāṃ laṅkā-pura-nivāsinām || 6.19.15 ||

Translation

楞迦城中居住着无数罗刹，成千上万乃至数十俱胝；他们随意变形，以血肉为食。

Word by Word

• daśa-koṭi-sahasrāṇi: ten crores of thousands (vast thousands)
• daśa-koṭi-sahasrāṇi: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa (प्रातिपदिक) + koṭi (प्रातिपदिक) + sahasra (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; द्विगु-समासः (संख्यापूर्वकः)

• rakṣasām: of rākṣasas
• rakṣasām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• kāmarūpiṇām: of those who can assume forms at will
• kāmarūpiṇām: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāmarūpin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; बहुवचन-सम्बन्धे विशेषण

• māṃsa-śoṇita-bhakṣyāṇām: of flesh-and-blood eaters
• māṃsa-śoṇita-bhakṣyāṇām: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: māṃsa (प्रातिपदिक) + śoṇita (प्रातिपदिक) + bhakṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मांसशोणितं भक्ष्यं येषाम्)

• laṅkāpura-nivāsinām: of residents of the city of Laṅkā
• laṅkāpura-nivāsinām: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: laṅkāpura (प्रातिपदिक) + nivāsin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (लङ्कापुरे निवासिनः)

Context

"Thousands of Rakshasas inhabit the city of Lanka living on flesh and blood and changing their form at will."

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

The verse depicts adharma through predatory appetite and shapeshifting deceit, setting a moral contrast: dharma protects life and truth, while adharma exploits and consumes.

What is the narrative situation?

Vibhīṣaṇa describes the scale and nature of Laṅkā’s rākṣasa population to convey the magnitude of the coming conflict.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Realism and steadiness—facing overwhelming numbers without panic is essential for righteous action.