Shloka 6

लङ्काप्रवेशः

Hanuman’s Stealth Entry and Survey of Lanka

Devanagari script

प्रजज्वाल ततो लङ्का रक्षोगणगृहैः शुभैः।।।।सिताभ्रसदृशैश्चित्रैः पद्मस्वस्तिकसंस्थितैः।वर्धमानगृहैश्चापि सर्वतः सुविभूषिता।।।।

Transliteration

prajajvāla tato laṅkā rakṣo-gaṇa-gṛhaiḥ śubhaiḥ |

sitābhra-sadṛśaiś citraiḥ padma-svastika-saṁsthitaiḥ |

vardhamāna-gṛhaiś cāpi sarvataḥ su-vibhūṣitā ||

Translation

Da erglänzte Laṅkā überall durch die glückverheißenden Häuser der Rākṣasa-Scharen—bunt und kunstvoll gemalt, den weißen Wolken gleich, mit Lotus- und Svastika-Zeichen versehen, in hohen Stockwerken aufragend; von allen Seiten war sie mit prächtigen, emporwachsenden Palästen reich geschmückt.

Word by Word

• tām: that (city)
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular; pronoun (refers to laṅkā/purī)

• citra-mālya-ābharaṇām: adorned with colorful garlands and ornaments
• citra-mālya-ābharaṇām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: citra (प्रातिपदिक) + mālya (प्रातिपदिक) + ābharaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular; agrees with tām; compound: citrāṇi mālyābharaṇāni yasyāḥ (बहुव्रीहि sense), used as qualifier

• kapirāja-hitaṅ-karaḥ: well-wisher of the monkey-king
• kapirāja-hitaṅ-karaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapi-rāja (प्रातिपदिक) + hita (प्रातिपदिक) + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; 'one who does good to the monkey-king'

• rāghava-artham: for Raghava's sake
• rāghava-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; purpose-accusative; compound: rāghavasya arthaḥ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• caran: wandering/moving about
• caran: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: car (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; Parasmaipada; 'moving about'

• śrīmān: splendid/fortunate
• śrīmān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śrīmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; agrees with kapirājahitaṅkaraḥ

• dadarśa: saw
• dadarśa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular; Parasmaipada

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• nananda: rejoiced
• nananda: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nand (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular; Parasmaipada

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

Context

Hanuman entered the harem of Ravana surrounded by walls of gold inlaid with precious pearls and other gems and sprinkled with excellent black agaru and sandal water.ইত্যার্ষে শ্রীমদ্রামাযণে বাল্মীকীয আদিকাব্যে সুন্দরকাণ্ডে চতুর্থস্সর্গঃ৷৷Thus ends the fourth sarga of Sundarakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Dharma calls for moral clarity: even when a city displays ‘auspicious’ symbols and grandeur, righteousness is judged by conduct and truth (satya), not ornamentation.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator describes Laṅkā’s radiant, richly decorated rākṣasa residences that Hanumān sees while moving through the city.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steady vigilance: Hanumān continues observing and advancing, not diverted by visual magnificence.