Shloka 5

रावणदर्शनम्

Hanuman Beholds Ravana in Court

Devanagari script

विचित्रैर्दर्शनीयैश्च रक्ताक्षैर्भीमदर्शनैः।दीप्ततीक्ष्णमहादंष्ट्रैः प्रलम्बदशनच्छदैः।।5.49.5।।शिरोभिर्दशभिर्वीरं भ्राजमानं महौजसम्।नानाव्यालसमाकीर्णैश्शिखरैरिव मन्दरम्।।5.49.6।।

Transliteration

vicitrair darśanīyaiś ca raktākṣair bhīmadarśanaiḥ |

dīptatīkṣṇamahādaṃṣṭraiḥ pralambadaśanacchadaiḥ ||5.49.5||

śirobhir daśabhir vīraṃ bhrājamānaṃ mahaujasam |

nānāvyālasamākīrṇaiḥ śikharair iva mandaram ||5.49.6||

Translation

Furchterregend war sein Anblick: blutrote Augen, ein schauriges Antlitz; gewaltige, scharf leuchtende Fangzähne und herabhängende Lippen. Mit zehn Häuptern strahlte er, ein Held von großer Macht, wie der Berg Mandara mit vielen Gipfeln, wimmelnd von mancherlei Schlangen und wilden Tieren.

Word by Word

• विचित्रैः: with wondrous/variegated (ones)
• विचित्रैः: Karana (करण) / Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/सह), बहुवचन; adjective qualifying implied plural instrumentals

• दर्शनीयैः: with sight-worthy/remarkable (ones)
• दर्शनीयैः: Karana (करण) / Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दर्शनीय (कृदन्त; √दृश् (धातु) + अनीय)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; gerundive/नीयत्: 'fit to be seen'

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• रक्ताक्षैः: with red-eyed (ones)
• रक्ताक्षैः: Karana (करण) / Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त+अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (अक्षि), तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय: 'रक्तानि अक्षीणि यस्य/येषाम्' used adjectivally

• भीमदर्शनैः: with dreadful-looking (ones)
• भीमदर्शनैः: Karana (करण) / Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीम+दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (दर्शन), तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; 'terrible in appearance'

• दीप्ततीक्ष्णमहादंष्ट्रैः: with shining, sharp, huge fangs
• दीप्ततीक्ष्णमहादंष्ट्रैः: Karana (करण) / Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीप्त+तीक्ष्ण+महा+दंष्ट्रा (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (दंष्ट्रा), तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: 'दीप्ताश्च तीक्ष्णाश्च महत्यश्च दंष्ट्राः येषाम्' used adjectivally

• प्रलम्बदशनच्छदैः: with drooping lips/teeth-covers
• प्रलम्बदशनच्छदैः: Karana (करण) / Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रलम्ब+दशन+छद (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (छद), तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'प्रलम्बाः दशन-छदाः (teeth-coverings/lips) येषाम्' used adjectivally

Context

He was decked with wonderful golden ornaments studded with diamonds and had small motifs of precious gems fixed to them. They were as though designed by imagination. (An ornament made with the hand connot be so fine and delicate.)

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Mandara

FAQs

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

Power and terrifying capability are not virtues in themselves; Dharma demands self-control, and without it strength becomes a threat to the world.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān beholds Rāvaṇa’s formidable physical form—especially the iconic ten heads—underscoring the danger of Laṅkā’s king.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage under pressure—Hanumān remains unshaken even while witnessing a terrifying adversary.