Shloka 17
लङ्कादुर्गवर्णनम्
Description of Lanka’s Fortifications and Forces
त्रायन्तेसङ्क्रमास्तत्रपरसैन्यागतेसति ।यन्त्रैस्तैरवकीर्यन्तेपरिखासुसमन्ततः ।।।।
trāyante saṅkramās tatra parasainyāgate sati | yantrais tair avakīryante parikhāsu samantataḥ ||
当敌军来犯之时，那些通桥便被牢牢控制；凭借机关，通路可从四面撤去，坠入护城壕中，使人不得入城。
"When the enemy arrives, the engines all over the moats lift the bridges making entry impossible for enemy armies."
FAQs
The verse underscores protective duty: defenses are activated specifically when aggression appears, suggesting restraint paired with readiness—an ethical balance in the use of force.
The mechanism of Laṅkā’s defenses is explained: bridges/crossings can be withdrawn or dropped into the moat to block invading armies.
Alert preparedness—being ready to respond effectively at the moment of threat.