Shloka 30
लङ्काप्रवेशः
Hanuman Enters Lanka and Encounters Laṅkā-devatā
अहं हि नगरी लङ्का स्वयमेव प्लवङ्गम।सर्वतः परिरक्षामि ह्येतत्ते कथितं मया।।।।
ahaṃ hi nagarī laṅkā svayam eva plavaṅgama | sarvataḥ parirakṣāmi hy etat te kathitaṃ mayā ||
O Affe, ich bin Laṅkā selbst, die persönlich erscheint. Ich bewache diese Stadt von allen Seiten – das ist es, was ich dir gesagt habe.
Hanuman, happy to reach Lanka, stood on its rampart and surveyed the city of land which was splendid with beautiful mansions overcast with autumnal clouds pierced by glittering streaks of lightning, served by planets and stars with mild winds blowing (out of fear of Ravana), with the roaring sounds of the sea and with a well-fed army like Vitapavati (that is Alaka, the capital of Kubera, half-brother of Ravana and the treasurer of celestials), which had elephants sationed at the outer gates, provided with white archways and protected by serpents like the auspicious city of Bhogavati (capital of Patala). Surrounded by a golden rampart, the city resembled Amaravati, the capital of Indra, decorated with flags fluttering, echoing with the jingling sounds of small bells.
FAQs
Responsibility tied to role: the guardian asserts comprehensive protection as her appointed function, illustrating how identity and duty are intertwined in epic ethics.
Laṅkā-devatā clarifies that she is the city’s presiding presence and claims authority to guard it everywhere.
Vigilance (rakṣaṇa-dharma), though again placed in service of Rāvaṇa’s regime.