Shloka 18

रावणान्तःपुर-पानभूमि-विचयः

Hanumān’s Survey of Rāvaṇa’s Inner Palace and Banquet Hall

Devanagari script

तत्र तत्र च विन्यस्तै: सुश्लिष्टैश्शयनासनैः।पानभूमिर्विना वह्निं प्रदीप्तेवोपलक्ष्यते।।5.11.18।।

Transliteration

tatra tatra ca vinyastaiḥ suśliṣṭaiḥ śayanāsanaiḥ | pānabhūmir vinā vahniṁ pradīpteva upalakṣyate ||5.11.18||

Translation

Hier und dort standen wohlgeordnet und eng gefügt Lager und Sitze; der Festsaal schien zu leuchten, als wäre er entflammt, obwohl kein Feuer brannte.

Word by Word

• दिव्याः: excellent / divine
• दिव्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (to सुराः)

• प्रसन्नाः: pleasant / clear
• प्रसन्नाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘clear/pleasing’

• विविधाः: various
• विविधाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• सुराः: wines / liquors
• सुराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• कृत-सुराः: fermented (prepared) liquors
• कृत-सुराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + सुरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘fermented/prepared liquors’

• अपि: even / also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अप्यर्थ (even/also)

• शर्करा-असव-माध्वीक-पुष्प-असव-फल-असवाः: sugar-asava, honey-based, flower-asava, and fruit-asava drinks
• शर्करा-असव-माध्वीक-पुष्प-असव-फल-असवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर्करा (प्रातिपदिक) + असव (प्रातिपदिक) + माध्वीक (प्रातिपदिक) + पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + असव (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक) + असव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; enumerative compound listing kinds of asava (fermented drinks)

• वास-चूर्णैः: with spice/fragrance powders
• वास-चूर्णैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वास (प्रातिपदिक) + चूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘with fragrant/spice powders’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• विविधैः: various
• विविधैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (to चूर्णैः)

• मृष्टाः: made delicious
• मृष्टाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √मृज् (धातु) + त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘made delicious/cleansed and refined’ (agreeing with सुराः)

• तैः: with those
• तैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; demonstrative ‘by those’

• तैः: with each (of those)
• तैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुनरुक्त; तृतीया-बहुवचन; distributive sense ‘with each of those’

• पृथक्: separately
• पृथक्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पृथक्त्वार्थक

• पृथक्: each separately
• पृथक्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरुक्त-अव्यय; emphasis

Context

Good couches and different kinds of seats were well-arranged in the banquet hall. The place appeared as if it was glowing witout fire.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• pāna-bhūmi (banquet hall)

FAQs

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

It subtly warns that appearances can be deceptive: a place can ‘shine’ outwardly while being tied to adharma. Dharma requires seeing beyond surface brilliance.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān observes the arrangement and illumination-like splendor of the hall as he continues searching within Laṅkā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Alertness and clear perception: Hanumān notices fine details (order, placement, ambiance) useful for stealth and assessment.