Shloka 23

लङ्कादाह-प्रचोदनं तथा वानर-राक्षस-समरारम्भः

The Burning of Lanka and the Outbreak of Battle

Devanagari script

ज्वलनेनपरीतानिनिपेतुर्भवनान्वथ ।वज्रिवज्रहतानीवशिखराणिमहागिरेः ।।।।

Transliteration

jvalanena parītāni nipetur bhavanāny atha |

vajrivajrahatānīva śikharāṇi mahāgireḥ || 6.75.23 ||

Translation

随后，那些被烈焰吞没的楼阁纷纷坍塌，犹如大山之巅被因陀罗的金刚雷霆击碎。

Word by Word

• ज्वलनेन: by fire
• ज्वलनेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्वलन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण

• परीतानि: surrounded/engulfed
• परीतानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि-इ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• निपेतुः: fell down
• निपेतुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-पत् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• भवनानि: mansions
• भवनानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/now)

• वज्रि-वज्र-हतानि: as if struck by Indra’s thunderbolt
• वज्रि-वज्र-हतानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वज्रिन् + वज्र + हत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण; समासः—वज्रिणा वज्रेण हतानि (करण-तत्पुरुष; ‘struck by Indra’s thunderbolt’)

• इव: like
• इव: Upamāna-marker (उपमा-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय

• शिखराणि: peaks
• शिखराणि: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• महागिरेः: of a great mountain
• महागिरेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महागिरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; समासः—महान् गिरिः (कर्मधारय)

Context

The archways covered with a touch of fire shone like lightning in summer, girt round like clusters of clouds.

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā
• Indra (Vajrin)
• Thunderbolt (vajra)
• Fire (jvalana)

FAQs

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

Adharma that appears unshakeable can collapse suddenly; moral order (dharma) ultimately prevails over arrogant structures.

What is the narrative situation?

The burning intensifies to structural collapse, with the narrator comparing falling mansions to broken mountain summits.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The implied virtue is steadfast adherence to dharma: even seemingly invincible opposition can be brought down when righteousness is pursued.