Shloka 10

रावणदर्शनम्

Hanuman Beholds Ravana in Court

Devanagari script

अलङ्कृताभिरत्यर्थं प्रमदाभिः समन्ततः।वालव्यजनहस्ताभिरारात्समुपसेवितम्।।5.49.10।।

Transliteration

alaṅkṛtābhir atyarthaṃ pramadābhiḥ samantataḥ | vālavyajanahastābhir ārāt samupasevitam ||5.49.10||

Translation

Von allen Seiten wurde er aus nächster Nähe von überaus geschmückten jungen Frauen bedient, die in der Nähe standen und Yakschwanz-Fächer in den Händen hielten.

Word by Word

• अलङ्कृताभिः: by/with adorned (women)
• अलङ्कृताभिः: Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अलङ्कृत (कृदन्त; √कृ (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; qualifying प्रमदाभिः

• अत्यर्थम्: exceedingly
• अत्यर्थम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्यर्थम् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• प्रमदाभिः: by/with women
• प्रमदाभिः: Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• समन्ततः: on all sides
• समन्ततः: Desha-adhikarana (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• वालव्यजनहस्ताभिः: with yak-tail fans in their hands
• वालव्यजनहस्ताभिः: Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाल+व्यजन+हस्त (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; 'having yak-tail fans in (their) hands' qualifying प्रमदाभिः

• आरात्: nearby
• आरात्: Desha-adhikarana (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आरात् (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/समीपवाचक-अव्यय (nearby)

• समुपसेवितम्: attended upon
• समुपसेवितम्: Karma (कर्म) in 'saw (him)' context
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्+उप+√सेव् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय: 'attended/served' qualifying (राक्षसपतिम्/रावणम् implied)

Context

Young and beautiful girls decorated exceedingly well holding whisks all over the vicinity attended on him.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa (implied as the one attended)
• Cāmara (yak-tail fan/whisk)

FAQs

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

The verse contrasts external splendor with inner righteousness: dharma evaluates a ruler not by luxury but by moral governance and restraint.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanuman observes the courtly grandeur surrounding the demon-king, including attendants and royal service.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanuman’s discernment: he notes magnificence without being seduced by it, keeping focus on the moral conflict.