Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 49, Shloka 20

रावणदर्शनम्

Hanuman Beholds Ravana in Court

Devanagari script

इति चिन्तां बहुविधामकरोन्मतिमान् हरिः।।5.49.20।।दृष्ट्वा राक्षसराजस्य प्रभावममितौजसः।

Transliteration

iti cintāṃ bahuvidhām akarot matimān hariḥ ||5.49.20||

dṛṣṭvā rākṣasarājasya prabhāvam amitaujasaḥ |

Translation

Thus the wise Hanumān entertained many lines of thought after witnessing the might and imposing power of the rākṣasa-king, whose energy seemed immeasurable.

Word by Word

• इति: thus, in this way
• इति: सम्बन्ध/वाक्योपपद (quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक/उद्धरणसूचक (quotative/"thus")

• चिन्ताम्: thought, reflection, anxiety
• चिन्ताम्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिन्ता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन (accusative singular)

• बहुविधाम्: many kinds of, various
• बहुविधाम्: कर्म-विशेषण (qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहुविध (प्रातिपदिक: बहु + विध)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन; विशेषणम् (accusative singular feminine adjective qualifying चिन्ताम्)

• अकरोत्: did, made, entertained (a thought)
• अकरोत्: क्रिया (main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (अनद्यतनभूत/Imperfect); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदम् (3rd person singular, past)

• मतिमान्: intelligent, thoughtful
• मतिमान्: कर्तृ-विशेषण (qualifier of agent)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मतिमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन; विशेषणम् (nominative singular masculine adjective qualifying हरिः)

• हरिः: Hari (Hanuman)
• हरिः: कर्ता (agent/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन (nominative singular)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen, after seeing
• दृष्ट्वा: पूर्वकाल (prior action circumstance)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दृश् (धातु) → दृष्ट्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभावः)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वकालिकक्रिया (having done/after doing)

• राक्षसराजस्य: of the king of the Rakshasas (Ravana)
• राक्षसराजस्य: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (possessive/genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षसराज (प्रातिपदिक: राक्षस + राजन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति; एकवचन (genitive singular)

• प्रभावम्: power, might, influence
• प्रभावम्: कर्म (object of दृष्ट्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन (accusative singular)

• अमितौजसः: of immeasurable strength, very brilliant
• अमितौजसः: षष्ठी-विशेषण (qualifier in genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमितौजस् (प्रातिपदिक: अमित + ओजस्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति; एकवचन; विशेषणम् (genitive singular masculine adjective qualifying राक्षसराजस्य)

Context

Adorned with armlets (keyura), smeared with choicest sandal paste, his shining, stout armlets appeared like many five-hooded serpents (fingers appearing like hoods).

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma-guided action is preceded by careful reflection; wisdom weighs consequences before acting, especially amid danger.

What is the narrative situation?

The sarga closes with Hanumān thoughtfully processing what he has observed of Rāvaṇa’s power while continuing his mission in Laṅkā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence (viveka)—Hanumān’s intelligence expresses itself as deliberate, multi-angle thinking rather than rash heroics.