Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 10, Shloka 47

रावणान्तःपुरे शयनदर्शनम्

Hanumān Observes Rāvaṇa’s Inner Apartments and Sleeping Court

Devanagari script

पाणिभ्यां च कुचौ काचित्सुवर्णकलशोपमौ।उपगूह्याबला सुप्ता निद्राबलपराजिता।।।।

Transliteration

pāṇibhyāṃ ca kucau kācit suvarṇa-kalaśopamau |

upagūhya abalā suptā nidrā-bala-parājitā ||

Translation

এক নারী, নিদ্রার প্রবল বশে পরাভূত হয়ে, দুই হাতে স্বর্ণকলশ-সদৃশ স্তনদ্বয়কে জড়িয়ে ধরে ঘুমিয়ে ছিল।

Word by Word

• पाणिभ्याम्: with (both) hands
• पाणिभ्याम्: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), द्विवचन; "with (both) hands"

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• कुचौ: (her) breasts
• कुचौ: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Accusative), द्विवचन; "(her) breasts"

• काचित्: a certain (woman)
• काचित्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काचित् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता/Nominative), एकवचन; अनिर्दिष्टा स्त्री (indefinite pronoun)

• सुवर्णकलशोपमौ: like golden goblets
• सुवर्णकलशोपमौ: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुवर्ण + कलश + उपम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; उपमा-तत्पुरुषः (सुवर्णकलश-उपमौ = "like golden goblets"), विशेषणम् (qualifying कुचौ)

• उपगूह्य: having embraced
• उपगूह्य: पूर्वकाल (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-गूह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), "having embraced/pressed"

• अबला: the woman
• अबला: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अबला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; "woman"

• सुप्ता: asleep
• सुप्ता: कर्तृसम्बन्ध (Predicative to subject/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्वप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle used adjectivally), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; "slept/was asleep"

• निद्राबलपराजिता: overpowered by sleep
• निद्राबलपराजिता: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निद्रा + बल + पराजित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (निद्राबलेन पराजिता = "overpowered by the force of sleep"), विशेषणम् (qualifying अबला)

Context

Overcome with sleep another woman lay pressing with her own hands her golden goblet-like breasts.

FAQs

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

Dharma here is implicit: Hanuman’s mission requires seeing without indulgence—witnessing sensual surroundings yet remaining ethically steady and purpose-driven.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanuman continues scanning the sleeping residents of the inner chambers while seeking signs of Sita.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Detachment and focus (vairāgya-like composure and ekāgratā) amid temptations.