Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 10, Shloka 4

रावणान्तःपुरे शयनदर्शनम्

Hanumān Observes Rāvaṇa’s Inner Apartments and Sleeping Court

Devanagari script

जातरूपपरिक्षिप्तं चित्रभानुसमप्रभम्।अशोकमालाविततं ददर्श परमासनम्।।।।वालव्यजनहस्ताभिर्वीज्यमानं समन्ततः।गन्धैश्च विविधैर्जुष्टं वरधूपेन धूपितम्।।।।परमास्तरणास्तीर्णमाविकाजिनसंवृतम्।दामभिर्वरमाल्यानां समन्तादुपशोभितम्।।।।

Transliteration

jātarūpa-parikṣiptaṃ citrabhānu-sama-prabham |

aśoka-mālā-vitataṃ dadarśa paramāsanam ||

vāla-vyajana-hastābhir vījyamānaṃ samantataḥ |

gandhaiś ca vividhair juṣṭaṃ vara-dhūpena dhūpitam ||

paramāstaraṇāstīrṇam āvikājina-saṃvṛtam |

dāmabhir vara-mālyānāṃ samantād upaśobhitam ||

Translation

Er erblickte ein erhabenes Lager, mit Gold überzogen, strahlend wie die Sonne und mit Girlanden aus Aśoka-Blüten bedeckt. Von allen Seiten fächelten Frauen mit Yakschwanz-Fächern; es war von vielerlei Düften durchdrungen und mit feinstem Weihrauch beräuchert. Mit den besten Decken bedeckt, mit weichen Wollfellen ausgelegt und ringsum mit Schnüren prächtiger Blumengirlanden geschmückt.

Word by Word

• jātarūpa-parikṣiptam: encased/covered with gold
• jātarūpa-parikṣiptam: Karma (कर्म/object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jātarūpa (प्रातिपदिक) + parikṣipta (कृदन्त, pari-√kṣip)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (jātarūpeṇa parikṣiptam); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of paramāsanam)

• citrabhānu-sama-prabham: shining like the sun
• citrabhānu-sama-prabham: Karma (कर्म/object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: citrabhānu (प्रातिपदिक) + sama (प्रातिपदिक) + prabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (citrabhānunā samā prabhā yasya); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• aśoka-mālā-vitatam: spread/decorated with Ashoka garlands
• aśoka-mālā-vitatam: Karma (कर्म/object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aśoka (प्रातिपदिक) + mālā (प्रातिपदिक) + vitata (कृदन्त, vi-√tan)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (aśokamālābhiḥ vitatam); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• dadarśa: saw
• dadarśa: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• parama-āsanam: the supreme seat/throne
• parama-āsanam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (paramam āsanam); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Context

He saw an exquisite couch made of gold shining wonderfully like the Sun. It was decorated with ashoka flowers. Women were holding fans of chamari deer. It was upholstered with the best of bed-spreads made of soft sheep skin and adorned with beautiful strings of flower garlands. Scented with aromatic smoke, it was refreshed with fragrance which had spread all over the place.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• aśoka (flowers/garlands)
• incense (dhūpa)
• gold (jātarūpa)

FAQs

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

The verse sets a moral contrast: opulence and sense-pleasures are transient, while dharma demands purpose and truthfulness. Hanumān’s dharma is to remain unattached to luxury and continue the truthful search for Sītā.

What is the narrative situation?

Inside Laṅkā’s royal quarters, Hanumān notices the lavish royal couch and the surrounding comforts, as part of his careful reconnaissance.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Detachment (vairāgya) and focus on duty (kartavya-niṣṭhā) in Hanumān, who is not distracted by splendor.