Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 3, Shloka 20

लङ्काप्रवेशः

Hanuman Enters Lanka and Encounters Laṅkā-devatā

Devanagari script

थ सा हरिशार्दूलं प्रविशन्तं महाबलम्।नगरी स्वेन रूपेण ददर्श पवनात्मजम्।।।।

Transliteration

atha sā hariśārdūlaṃ praviśantaṃ mahābalam | nagarī svena rūpeṇa dadarśa pavanātmajam ||

Translation

حينئذٍ رأت المدينةُ—قوّتُها الحارسة—وقد اتّخذت صورتَها الحقيقية، ابنَ إله الريح، الجبّارَ، نمرَ الفانارا، وهو يدخل.

Word by Word

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; subject

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; object of ‘दृष्ट्वा’

• हरिवरम्: best of vanaras
• हरिवरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि + वर (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: तत्पुरुष; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘best of monkeys’

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund), ‘having seen’

• लङ्का: Lanka
• लङ्का: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लङ्का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; apposition to ‘सा’

• रावणपालिता: ruled by Ravana
• रावणपालिता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रावण + पालित (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: तत्पुरुष; पालित (√पाल् + क्त) with agent ‘रावण’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘ruled/protected by Ravana’

• स्वयम्: herself
• स्वयम्: Karta-nirdeśa (कर्तृनिर्देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: स्वयम्-शब्दः (indeclinable: oneself)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (indeed)

• उत्थिता: rose
• उत्थिता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत्-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘arose/stood up’

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb: there)

• विकृताननदर्शना: with a distorted face
• विकृताननदर्शना: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विकृत + आनन + दर्शना (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: तत्पुरुष; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘having a distorted face/appearance’ qualifying ‘लङ्का’

Context

Assuming her real form the presiding deity of Lanka noticed the son of the Wind-god, the tiger among vanaras of great prowess entering the city.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Pavana/Māruta (Wind-god)
• Laṅkā (as nagarī; city-deity/presiding spirit)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes protection of one’s domain: the city’s guardian principle awakens to challenge intrusion, showing that order and vigilance operate even in an unrighteous kingdom.

What is the narrative situation?

As Hanumān enters Laṅkā, the presiding deity/guardian of the city perceives him and prepares to confront him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vigilance (apramāda): the guardian presence detects an intruder despite stealth.