Shloka 4

रावणदर्शनम्

Hanuman Beholds Ravana in Court

Devanagari script

महार्हक्षौमसंवीतं रक्तचन्दनरूषितम्।स्वानुलिप्तं विचित्राभिर्विविधाभिश्च भक्तिभिः।।5.49.4।।

Transliteration

mahārhakṣaumasaṃvītaṃ raktacandanarūṣitam |

svānuliptaṃ vicitrābhir vividhābhiś ca bhaktibhiḥ ||5.49.4||

Translation

Er war in kostbaren Seidenstoff gehüllt, mit rotem Sandel bestrichen und mit mannigfaltigen, kunstvollen Mustern geschmückt, die mit duftenden Salben auf seinen Leib gezeichnet waren.

Word by Word

• महार्हक्षौमसंवीतम्: clad in costly fine cloth
• महार्हक्षौमसंवीतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महार्ह (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षौम (प्रातिपदिक) + संवीत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्तः (क्त), पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; समासः तत्पुरुषः: महार्हेण क्षौमेण संवीतम् (clad in costly linen/silk)

• रक्तचन्दनरूषितम्: smeared with red sandal paste
• रक्तचन्दनरूषितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + चन्दन (प्रातिपदिक) + रूषित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्तः (क्त), पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; समासः तत्पुरुषः: रक्तचन्दनेन रूषितम् (smeared with red sandal paste)

• स्वानुलिप्तम्: well anointed
• स्वानुलिप्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु+अनु+लिप् (धातु) → अनुलिप्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्तः (क्त), पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; ‘well-anointed/smeared’

• विचित्राभिः: with wonderful
• विचित्राभिः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया, बहुवचनम्; भक्ति-शब्दस्य विशेषणम्

• विविधाभिः: with various
• विविधाभिः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया, बहुवचनम्; भक्ति-शब्दस्य विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम्

• भक्तिभिः: with decorative designs
• भक्तिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया, बहुवचनम्; अत्र ‘अलङ्कार-रेखा/वर्णक-रचना’ इत्यर्थे (ornamental designs/decoration)

Context

Many such thoughts crossed Hanuman's intelligent mind on seeing Ravana's brilliance and power.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē sundarakāṇḍē ēkōnapañcāśassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the fortyninth sarga of Sundarakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma prioritizes inner purity (śīla) over external adornment; ethical life is not achieved through cosmetics or luxury.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration continues to portray Rāvaṇa’s opulence as seen by Hanumān within Laṅkā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanumān’s clarity of judgment—he can register splendor without confusing it for moral worth.