Shloka 33

रावणान्तःपुर-पानभूमि-विचयः

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

Devanagari script

श्यामावदातास्तत्रान्याः काश्चित्कृष्णा वराङ्गनाः।।5.11.33।।काश्चित् काञ्चनवर्णाङ्ग्यः प्रमदा राक्षसालये।

Transliteration

śyāmāvadātās tatrānyāḥ kāścit kṛṣṇā varāṅganāḥ || 5.11.33 || kāścit kāñcana-varṇāṅgyaḥ pramadā rākṣasālaye |

Translation

Dort, in der Wohnstatt der Rākṣasas, waren auch andere schöne Frauen: einige von dunklem, glänzendem Teint, andere Mädchen, deren Leib in goldener Farbe schimmerte.

Word by Word

• śyāma-avadātāḥ: dark and fair (complexioned)
• śyāma-avadātāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of implied striyaḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śyāma (प्रातिपदिक) + avadāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (plural); द्वन्द्व-समासः (copulative) used adjectivally qualifying women

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), स्थानवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• anyāḥ: others
• anyāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of implied striyaḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom/1st), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषण (pronominal adjective)

• kāścit: some
• kāścit: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of implied striyaḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom/1st), बहुवचन; अनिश्चित-परिमाणवाचक (indefinite: "some")

• kṛṣṇāḥ: dark (black-complexioned)
• kṛṣṇāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of varāṅganāḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom/1st), बहुवचन

• varāṅganāḥ: lovely women
• varāṅganāḥ: Karta (कर्ता) / subject (women being described)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara-aṅganā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom/1st), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (descriptive): vara + aṅganā

• kāścit: some
• kāścit: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of pramadāḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom/1st), बहुवचन; अनिश्चित-परिमाणवाचक

• kāñcana-varṇa-aṅgyaḥ: golden-complexioned (gold-hued-bodied)
• kāñcana-varṇa-aṅgyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of pramadāḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāñcana (प्रातिपदिक) + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅgī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom/1st), बहुवचन; षष्ठी/तत्पुरुष-समासः (determinative): kāñcana-varṇa + aṅgī (having limbs of golden color)

• pramadāḥ: women
• pramadāḥ: Karta (कर्ता) / subject (women)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pramadā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom/1st), बहुवचन

• rākṣasa-ālaye: in the abode of the rākṣasas
• rākṣasa-ālaye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक) + ālaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः: rākṣasāṇām ālayaḥ

Context

There in the demons abode were women who were fair, some lovely with dark and others with golden complexion.

Characters & Entities

• Ravana (implied by the harem context)

FAQs

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

The verse sets the scene without moral judgment, preparing for Hanuman’s later dharmic self-scrutiny: even in morally sensitive spaces, perception should remain disciplined and non-exploitative.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanuman is moving through the inner quarters in Lanka, observing the women present as part of his search for Sita.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Implicitly, Hanuman’s restraint and purposefulness—he notices but remains focused on the mission.