Shloka 10

राक्षसेन्द्रनिवेशनविचारः

Survey of Ravana’s Residence and Lanka’s Inner Quarters

Devanagari script

मुदितप्रमदारत्नं राक्षसेन्द्रनिवेशनम्।वराभरणसंह्रादैः समुद्रस्वनन्निस्वनम्।।।।

Transliteration

muditapramadāratnaṃ rākṣasendraniveśanam |

varābharaṇasaṃhrādaiḥ samudrasvanannisvanam ||5.6.10||

Translation

Die Wohnstatt des Herrn der Rākṣasas funkelte von den Juwelen der erfreuten Frauen und hallte wider vom Klingen kostbarer Schmuckstücke—gleich dem unaufhörlichen Tosen des Meeres.

Word by Word

• मुदित-प्रमदा-रत्नम्: a treasure of joyful women
• मुदित-प्रमदा-रत्नम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुदित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + प्रमदा (प्रातिपदिक) + रत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः) ‘मुदितानां प्रमदानां रत्नम्’ = jewel/treasure of delighted women

• राक्षस-इन्द्र-निवेशनम्: the residence of the lord of demons
• राक्षस-इन्द्र-निवेशनम्: विशेष्य (Head noun/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + निवेशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः) ‘राक्षस-इन्द्रस्य निवेशनम्’

• वर-आभरण-संह्रादैः: by the jingling of fine ornaments
• वर-आभरण-संह्रादैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक) + आभरण (प्रातिपदिक) + सम् + ह्राद् (धातु) / संह्राद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुषः) ‘वराणाम् आभरणानां संह्रादाः’ = jingling/clangors

• समुद्र-स्वनत्-निस्वनम्: having a roar like the sea
• समुद्र-स्वनत्-निस्वनम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वनत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, शतृ) + निस्वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘समुद्रस्वनत् इव निस्वनः’ = sea-like roaring sound

Context

Full of the jewels of joyous women, the residence of the lord of demons reverberated with the jingling of their ornaments and accessories like the sound of the sea.

Characters & Entities

• rākṣasendra (Rāvaṇa)
• Rāvaṇa’s residence
• Laṅkā

FAQs

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

A quiet ethical contrast is set up: external splendor and sensory excess can coexist with inner adharma. The Ramayana repeatedly warns that luxury is not proof of righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān comes upon (and the narration describes) the magnificent, noisy, ornament-filled residence of Rāvaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discernment (viveka) by implication: the observer must not be dazzled by grandeur while pursuing a righteous objective.