Shloka 43

रावणान्तःपुर-पानभूमि-विचयः

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

Devanagari script

यस्य सत्त्वस्य या योनिस्तस्यां तत्परिमार्ग्यते।न शक्या प्रमदा नष्टा मृगीषु परिमार्गितुम्।।5.11.43।।

Transliteration

yasya sattvasya yā yoniḥ tasyāṃ tat parimārgyate |

na śakyā pramadā naṣṭā mṛgīṣu parimārgitum || 5.11.43 ||

Translation

Welche Wesensart und Herkunft einem Wesen auch eigen sei, dort muss man es suchen; eine verschwundene Frau kann nicht unter Hirschkühen gesucht werden.

Word by Word

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (emphatic)

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• mārgitam: searched
• mārgitam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛg (मृग् धातु) (क्त/PPP)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; (tat idam) इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• tāvat: so far
• tāvat: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/अवधि-बोधक अव्यय (adverb: 'so far/so much')

• śuddhena: with pure
• śuddhena: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (manasā)

• manasā: by mind
• manasā: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Karta (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया, एकवचन

• rāvaṇa-antaḥpuram: Ravana's harem/inner palace
• rāvaṇa-antaḥpuram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + antaḥpura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (Rāvaṇa's inner apartments)

• sarvam: all
• sarvam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (antaḥpuram)

• dṛśyate: is seen
• dṛśyate: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (दृश् धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषणार्थक निपात (but/however)

• jānakī: Janaki (Sita)
• jānakī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jānakī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

Heroic Hanuman, unable to find Sita among the women, moved aside and started thinking.

Characters & Entities

• Sita

FAQs

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

Dharma as discernment (viveka): truth-seeking requires proper categories and evidence—one must search in the right domain rather than act on confusion or impulse.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanuman justifies focusing his search within the women’s quarters, using an analogy about searching by species.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Clarity of judgment and methodical thinking—Hanuman applies logic to serve a righteous goal.