Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 15

द्वादशः सर्गः — हनूमतः अन्तःपुरविचयः

Hanuman’s Search Through Ravana’s Inner Apartments

Devanagari script

उत्पतन्निष्पतंश्चापि तिष्ठन्गच्छन् पुनः पुनः।अपावृण्वंश्च द्वाराणि कवाटान्यवघाटयन्।।।।प्रविशन्निष्पतंश्चापि प्रपतन्नुत्पतन्नपि।सर्वमप्यवकाशं स विचचार महाकपिः।।।।

Transliteration

utpatan niṣpataṃś cāpi tiṣṭhan gacchan punaḥ punaḥ |

apāvṛṇvaṃś ca dvārāṇi kavāṭāny avaghāṭayan ||

praviśan niṣpataṃś cāpi prapatan utpatan api |

sarvam apy avakāśaṃ sa vicacāra mahākapiḥ ||

Translation

Leaping up and down again and again—now standing, now moving—opening entrances and pushing aside doors, entering and emerging, dropping down and springing up, that great monkey ranged through every space where there was any scope to search.

Word by Word

• mārgamāṇaḥ: searching
• mārgamāṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (agent-participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: mārg (धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ) / present participle
• Form: Vartamāna-kṛdanta (वर्तमानकृदन्त), Parasmaipada sense; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; agrees with 'vānaraḥ'

• varārohām: noble-limbed (fair lady)
• varārohām: Karma (कर्म) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vara + ārohā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa to 'rājaputrīm'

• rāja-putrīm: the princess
• rāja-putrīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan + putrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; object of 'mārgamāṇaḥ' (searching for)

• aninditām: blameless
• aninditām: Karma (कर्म) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anindita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa to 'rājaputrīm'

• sukha-prasuptān: soundly sleeping
• sukha-prasuptān: Karma (कर्म) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sukha + prasupta (प्रातिपदिक; from su-√svap kta)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana; viśeṣaṇa to 'vihagān'

• vihagān: birds
• vihagān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vihaga (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana; object of 'bodhayāmāsa'

• bodhayāmāsa: awakened
• bodhayāmāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: budh (धातु) causative (णिच्) + liṭ/periphrastic perfect
• Form: Causative (णिजन्त), Liṭ lakāra (लिट्/Perfect), Prathama puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• vānaraḥ: the monkey (Hanuman)
• vānaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; subject of 'bodhayāmāsa'

Context

Thinking thus, he started searching once again the basement cells, temples, homes within homes.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān (Mahākapi)
• Rāvaṇa’s inner palace (implicit)

FAQs

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

Dharma is energetic, disciplined action: Hanumān does not merely intend good—he exerts body and mind fully to fulfill a righteous responsibility.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration depicts the intensity and breadth of Hanumān’s search as he moves through doors, passages, and levels of the palace complex.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vīrya (valor/energy) joined with perseverance—unceasing effort in service of truth and justice.