Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 2, Shloka 51

लङ्कादर्शनं तथा रात्रौ सूक्ष्मरूपेण प्रवेशोपायचिन्तनम्

Vision of Lanka and Strategy for Nocturnal Entry

Devanagari script

प्रासादमालाविततां स्तम्भैः काञ्चनराजतैः।शातकुम्भमयैर्जालैर्गन्थर्वनगरोपमाम्।।।।सप्तभौमाष्टभौमैश्च स ददर्श महापुरीम्।तलैः स्फाटिकसंकीर्णैः कार्तस्वरविभूषितैः।।।।

Transliteration

prāsādamālāvitatāṁ stambhaiḥ kāñcanarājataiḥ |

śātakumbhamayair jālair gantharvanagaropamām ||

saptabhaumāṣṭabhaumaiś ca sa dadarśa mahāpurīm |

talaiḥ sphāṭikasaṅkīrṇaiḥ kārtasvaravibhūṣitaiḥ ||

Translation

ورأى المدينة العظمى ممتدّة بصفوف القصور؛ أعمدتها من ذهب وفضّة، وشبابيكها المشبّكة من ذهب خالص، كأنها مدينة الغندرفا؛ وفيها قصور ذات سبع وثمان طبقات، وأرضيات مرصّعة بالبلّور، وزينة من ذهب لامع.

Word by Word

• प्रासाद-माला-वितताम्: stretched/covered with a garland/row of mansions
• प्रासाद-माला-वितताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रासाद (प्रातिपदिक) + माला (प्रातिपदिक) + वितत (कृदन्त, √तन् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषण (क्त-प्रत्यय), 'वितता' = 'विस्तारित/आवृता'

• स्तम्भैः: with pillars
• स्तम्भैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• काञ्चन-राजतैः: with gold and silver (ones)
• काञ्चन-राजतैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काञ्चन (प्रातिपदिक) + राजत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (द्वन्द्वसमासे सामान्यतः नपुंसक), तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् स्तम्भैः इत्यस्य

• शातकुम्भ-मयैः: made of fine gold
• शातकुम्भ-मयैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शातकुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; 'मय' = 'निर्मित'

• जालैः: with lattices/fretwork
• जालैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• गन्धर्व-नगर-उपमाम्: resembling the city of the Gandharvas
• गन्धर्व-नगर-उपमाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गन्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + नगर (प्रातिपदिक) + उपमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; 'उपमा' = 'सदृशी' (resembling)

Context

As soon as dusk had set in, courageous Hanuman jumped in and entered the well laid-out royal path of the beautiful city.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Laṅkā
• Gandharva (as comparison)

FAQs

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

The verse invites discernment: dazzling prosperity can exist even in an unrighteous regime; Dharma requires seeing beyond external opulence to the moral truth of actions.

What is the narrative situation?

After entering Laṅkā, Hanumān observes the city’s extraordinary architecture and wealth as he proceeds with his mission.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Detachment and focus: despite being surrounded by splendor, Hanumān remains oriented toward Sītā and Rāma’s purpose.