Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 10, Shloka 42

रावणान्तःपुरे शयनदर्शनम्

Hanumān Observes Rāvaṇa’s Inner Apartments and Sleeping Court

Devanagari script

अन्या कनकसङ्काशैर्मृदुपीनैर्मनोरमैः।मृदङ्गं परिपीड्याङ्गैः प्रसुप्ता मत्तलोचना।।।।

Transliteration

anyā kanaka-saṅkāśair mṛdu-pīnair manoramaiḥ |

mṛdaṅgaṃ paripīḍyāṅgaiḥ prasuptā mattalocanā ||

Translation

Eine andere, deren Augen von Trunkenheit schwer waren, schlief, während sie eine mṛdaṅga an sich drückte; ihre lieblichen Glieder, goldschimmernd, waren weich und voll.

Word by Word

• anyā: another (woman)
• anyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• kanakasaṅkāśaiḥ: with golden-looking
• kanakasaṅkāśaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kanaka-saṅkāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; instrumental qualifying aṅgaiḥ; tatpuruṣa: 'kanakasya saṅkāśa' (gold-like)

• mṛdupīnaiḥ: with soft, plump
• mṛdupīnaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛdu-pīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; qualifying aṅgaiḥ; karmadhāraya: 'soft and full'

• manoramaiḥ: with charming
• manoramaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: manorama (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; qualifying aṅgaiḥ

• mṛdaṅgam: a mṛdaṅga drum
• mṛdaṅgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛdaṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• paripīḍya: having pressed tightly
• paripīḍya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-√pīḍ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), 'having pressed'

• aṅgaiḥ: with (her) limbs
• aṅgaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• prasuptā: asleep
• prasuptā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√svap + kta (धातु-कृदन्त)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• mattalocanā: with intoxicated eyes
• mattalocanā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: matta-locanā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; karmadhāraya: 'matta' (intoxicated) + 'locanā' (eyed)

Context

Another lady with drunken eyes lay fast asleep holding a drum close to her beautiful bosom with her soft limbs. (These images show that these women were singing and dancing till late night and slept exhausted).

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān (implied observer)
• mṛdaṅga (drum)

FAQs

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

The passage underscores the dharmic ideal of mastery over intoxication and desire by contrast; Hanumān’s satya-driven mission stands apart from the exhaustion born of indulgence.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān continues his search and notices yet another woman asleep, still clutching a drum after festivities.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Temperance (dama) and resolve (niścaya) in Hanumān, implied through the continuing, careful search.