Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 6, Shloka 18

राक्षसेन्द्रनिवेशनविचारः

Survey of Ravana’s Residence and Lanka’s Inner Quarters

Devanagari script

अथ मेघप्रतीकाशं कुम्भकर्णनिवेशनम्।विभीषणस्य च तदा पुप्लुवे स महाकपिः।।।।

Transliteration

atha meghapratīkāśaṃ kumbhakarṇaniveśanam |

vibhīṣaṇasya ca tadā pupluve sa mahākapiḥ ||5.6.18||

Translation

ثم إنّ ذلك القرد العظيم وثب إلى مسكنِ كومبهكرنا الشبيه بالسحاب، ومن هناك أيضاً قفز إلى دارِ فيبيشانا، مواصلاً بحثه.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण-काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), अनन्तरार्थ (then)

• मेघप्रतीकाशम्: cloud-like in appearance
• मेघप्रतीकाशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेघ (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रतीकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (उपमान-सम्बन्ध: मेघवत् प्रतीकाश); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of निवेशनम्)

• कुम्भकर्णनिवेशनम्: Kumbhakarna's residence
• कुम्भकर्णनिवेशनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुम्भकर्ण (प्रातिपदिक/नाम) + निवेशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कुम्भकर्णस्य निवेशनम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• विभीषणस्य: of Vibhīṣaṇa
• विभीषणस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभीषण (प्रातिपदिक/नाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• तदा: at that time
• तदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण-काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• पुप्लुवे: leapt
• पुप्लुवे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्लु (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महाकपिः: the great monkey
• महाकपिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + कपि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

The great vanara leaped from Mahodara's to Virupaksha's, from Vidyujjihva's to Vidyunmali and then to Vajradanstra's.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Kumbhakarṇa
• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Laṅkā

FAQs

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

Dharma includes discernment: even in enemy territory, Hanumān investigates carefully, moving through both hostile and potentially righteous households.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān crosses major residences in Laṅkā, including those of Kumbhakarṇa and Vibhīṣaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Disciplined discernment—searching widely without prejudice, guided by the mission.