Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 25, Shloka 24

शुकसारण-चारप्रवेशः

Suka and Sāraṇa’s Espionage and Release

Devanagari script

श्वःकाल्येनगरींलङ्कांसप्राकारांसतोरणाम् ।रक्षसंचबलंपश्यशरैर्विध्वंसितंमया ।।।।

Transliteration

śvaḥkālye nagarīṃ laṅkāṃ saprākārāṃ satoraṇām | rakṣasāṃ ca balaṃ paśya śarair vidhvaṃsitaṃ mayā ||

Translation

明日拂晓，你将看见楞迦——城垣与门楼俱全——以及罗刹之军，被我箭矢摧毁。

Word by Word

• śvaḥ: tomorrow
• śvaḥ: Kālādhi karaṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śvaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of time (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• kālye: at dawn
• kālye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kālya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); 'at dawn/early morning'

• nagarīm: the city
• nagarīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nagarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• laṅkām: Lanka
• laṅkām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: laṅkā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular; apposition to nagarīm

• sa-prākārām: with its walls
• sa-prākārām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (सह/स) + prākāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular; 'with ramparts/walls' qualifying nagarīm/laṅkām

• sa-toraṇām: with its gateways
• sa-toraṇām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (सह/स) + toraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular; 'with gateways/arches' qualifying nagarīm/laṅkām

• rakṣasam: the Rakshasa host
• rakṣasam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग; collective), Accusative (2nd), Singular (एकवचन)

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

• balam: army/strength
• balam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• paśya: see
• paśya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person, Singular, Parasmaipada; √dṛś 'see'

• śaraiḥ: by arrows
• śaraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• vidhvaṃsitam: destroyed
• vidhvaṃsitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-dhvaṃs (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Accusative, Singular; agrees with rakṣasam/balam; 'destroyed'

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Instrumental (3rd), Singular

Context

At dawn tomorrow, you may see how I will crush the arches of the entrance of Lanka city and the strength of Rakshasas."

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā
• Ramparts (Prākāra)
• Rākṣasa army

FAQs

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

Dharma includes giving fair warning before decisive action; Rāma’s declaration functions as a final moral notice to desist from adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma predicts imminent assault and destruction of Laṅkā’s defenses and forces, conveyed through the returning envoys.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s righteous firmness—compassion is present, but not at the cost of tolerating injustice.