Shloka 8

लङ्काप्रवेशः

Hanuman Enters Lanka and Encounters Laṅkā-devatā

Devanagari script

विस्मयाविष्टहृदयः पुरीमालोक्य सर्वतः।जाम्बूनदमयैर्द्वारैर्वैडूर्यकृतवेदिकैः।।।।वज्रस्फटिकमुक्ताभिर्मणिकुट्टिमभूषितैः।तप्तहाटकनिर्यूहै राजतामलपाण्डुरैः।।।।वैढूर्यकृतसोपानैः स्फाटिकान्तरपांसुभिः।चारुसंजवनोपेतैः खमिवोत्पतितैः शुभैः।।।।क्रौञ्चबर्हिणसङ्घुष्टैः राजहंस निषेवितैः।तूर्याभरणनिर्घोषैः सर्वतः प्रतिनादिताम्।।।।वस्वौकसाराप्रतिमां तां वीक्ष्य नगरीं ततः।खमिवोत्पतितुं कामां जहर्ष हनुमान् कपिः।।।।

Transliteration

vismayāviṣṭahṛdayaḥ purīmālokya sarvataḥ |

jāmbūnadamayairdvārairvaiḍūryakṛtavedikaiḥ ||

Translation

Von Staunen im Herzen ergriffen, schaute er die Stadt ringsum an: ihre Tore waren aus Gold, ihre Podeste aus Vaidūrya gefertigt.

Word by Word

• वज्र-स्फटिक-मुक्ताभिः: with diamonds, crystals, and pearls
• वज्र-स्फटिक-मुक्ताभिः: करण (Karaṇa/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र (प्रातिपदिक) + स्फटिक (प्रातिपदिक) + मुक्ता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (copulative) — 'diamonds, crystals, and pearls'; स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन (Plural)

• मणि-कुट्टिम-भूषितैः: adorned with gem-pavements
• मणि-कुट्टिम-भूषितैः: करण (Karaṇa/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मणि (प्रातिपदिक) + कुट्टिम (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषित (कृदन्त; भूष् धातु)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास — 'adorned with gem-pavements'; पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Masculine/Neuter), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन (Plural); भूतकृदन्त (PPP/क्त) used adjectivally (qualifying earlier instrumental plurals like भवनैः etc. in the larger passage)

• तप्त-हाटक-निर्यूहैः: with molten-gold structures
• तप्त-हाटक-निर्यूहैः: करण (Karaṇa/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तप्त (कृदन्त; तप् धातु) + हाटक (प्रातिपदिक) + निर्यूह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास — 'projections/structures of heated (molten) gold'; पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन (Plural)

• राजत-अमल-पाण्डुरैः: with pure white silver (ones)
• राजत-अमल-पाण्डुरैः: करण (Karaṇa/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राजत (प्रातिपदिक) + अमल (प्रातिपदिक) + पाण्डुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास — 'silver, spotless, white'; पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Masculine/Neuter), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण (qualifying the same set of instrumental plurals)

Context

Surveying all over, Hanuman was wonder-struck to see as though it was leaping into the sky. The city had golden shutters, altars encrusted with vaidurya, mansions inlaid with diamonds, crystals, pearls and other gems, crowned with pure gold and silver. The staircases built with silver were studded with vaidurya. The beautiful quadrangles, coverd with grains of crystal were as though leaping into the air. It echoed with sounds of krauncha birds, peacocks and royal swans. Filled with sounds of musical instruments, it resembled the city of Vaswokasara.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Laṅkā
• jāmbūnada (gold)
• vaidūrya (gem)

FAQs

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

The Ramāyaṇa repeatedly distinguishes artha (wealth) from Dharma: the city’s opulence can inspire wonder, but the epic invites the reader to evaluate whether such prosperity is guided by righteousness and truth.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān surveys Laṅkā closely and is astonished by its extraordinary construction—golden gates and gem-built platforms.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Pramāda-rahitatā (careful attentiveness): despite amazement, Hanumān continues systematic observation.