Shloka 6

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

• शिरोभिः: with heads
• शिरोभिः: Karana (करण) / Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• दशभिः: with ten
• दशभिः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन् (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; numeral adjective qualifying शिरोभिः

• वीरम्: the hero
• वीरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• भ्राजमानम्: shining/splendid
• भ्राजमानम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √भ्राज् (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present participle) qualifying वीरम्

• महौजसम्: of great vigor/energy
• महौजसम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्+ओजस् (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'महद् ओजः यस्य' used adjectivally

• नानाव्यालसमाकीर्णैः: filled with various beasts
• नानाव्यालसमाकीर्णैः: Karana (करण) / Upamana-sahakari (उपमान-सहकारी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना+व्याल+समाकीर्ण (कृदन्त; √कॄ (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय (past participle) 'filled with various beasts' qualifying शिखरैः

• शिखरैः: with peaks
• शिखरैः: Karana (करण) / Upamana-instrument (उपमान-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• इव: like/as
• इव: Upamana-marker (उपमान-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• मन्दरम्: Mandara (mountain)
• मन्दरम्: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्दर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; object of implied comparison

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.