Shloka 51

लङ्काप्रवेशः

Hanuman Enters Lanka and Encounters Laṅkā-devatā

Devanagari script

प्रविश्य शापोपहतां हरीश्वर शुभां पुरीं राक्षसमुख्यपालिताम्।यदृच्छया त्वं जनकात्मजां सतीं विमार्ग सर्वत्र गतो यथासुखम्।।।।

Transliteration

praviśya śāpōpahatāṃ harīśvara śubhāṃ purīṃ rākṣasa-mukhya-pālitām | yadṛcchayā tvaṃ janakātmajāṃ satīṃ vimārga sarvatra gato yathāsukham ||

Translation

O Herr der Affen, tritt ein in diese glückverheißende Stadt, obgleich von einem Fluch getroffen, beherrscht vom Fürsten der Rākṣasas. Wandere überall nach deinem Belieben umher und suche Sītā, die keusche Tochter Janakas.

Word by Word

• praviśya: having entered
• praviśya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√viś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्) ‘having entered’

• śāpa-upahatām: afflicted by a curse
• śāpa-upahatām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + upahata (कृदन्त)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā Ekavacana; adjective qualifying purīm; tatpuruṣa ‘struck by a curse’

• harīśvara: O lord of vanaras
• harīśvara: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana Ekavacana

• śubhām: auspicious
• śubhām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā Ekavacana; adjective qualifying purīm

• purīm: city
• purīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā Ekavacana

• rākṣasa-mukhya-pālitām: ruled by the demon-chief
• rākṣasa-mukhya-pālitām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक) + mukhya (प्रातिपदिक) + pālita (कृदन्त)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā Ekavacana; adjective qualifying purīm; tatpuruṣa ‘ruled by the chief of demons’

• yadṛcchayā: by chance/freely
• yadṛcchayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yadṛcchā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā Ekavacana; instrumental adverbial ‘by chance/at will’

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Prathamā Ekavacana

• janaka-ātmajām: Janaka's daughter (Sita)
• janaka-ātmajām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janaka (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmajā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी) ‘daughter of Janaka’

• satīm: chaste/virtuous
• satīm: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: satī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā Ekavacana; adjective qualifying janakātmajām

• vimārga: search
• vimārga: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√mṛg (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ, Madhyama-puruṣa Ekavacana; parasmaipada; ‘search!’

• sarvatra: everywhere
• sarvatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb of place

• gataḥ: having gone
• gataḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: Kta past participle from √gam; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; predicate with tvam ‘having gone’

• yathā-sukham: at ease/as you like
• yathā-sukham: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva compound functioning as avyaya; adverb ‘at ease/as you please’

Context

"O great vanara! enter the city ruled by Ravana and accomplish your purpose.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Sītā
• Janaka
• Laṅkā
• Rāvaṇa
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Dharma is service to the innocent and virtuous: the search for Sītā (satī, janakātmajā) is framed as the central righteous task, sanctioned even by the city’s own presiding power.

What is the narrative situation?

Laṅkā-devatā concludes by instructing Hanumān to enter Laṅkā and search everywhere for Sītā, despite the city being under a curse and ruled by Rāvaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanumān’s dutiful resolve and disciplined freedom: he may move “yathāsukham,” yet only in service of the righteous objective.