Shloka 2

राक्षसेन्द्रनिवेशनविचारः

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

Devanagari script

आससादाथ लक्ष्मीवान्राक्षसेन्द्रनिवेशनम्।प्राकारेणार्कवर्णेन भास्वरेणाभिसम्वृतम्।।।।

Transliteration

āsasādātha lakṣmīvān rākṣasendraniveśanam |

prākāreṇārkavarṇena bhāsvareṇābhisaṃvṛtam ||5.6.2||

Translation

Dann erreichte Hanumān die Wohnstatt des Herrn der Rākṣasas, umschlossen von einer strahlenden Umfriedung, sonnenrot an Farbe und blendend wie die Mittagssonne.

Word by Word

• āsasāda: reached
• āsasāda: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sad (सद्) + ā
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम; ‘reached/approached’

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/now)

• lakṣmīvān: splendid
• lakṣmīvān: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: lakṣmīvat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण—‘prosperous/splendid’

• rākṣasa-indra-niveśanam: the demon-king's residence
• rākṣasa-indra-niveśanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक) + niveśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘the residence of the lord of demons’

• prākāreṇa: by/with a wall
• prākāreṇa: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prākāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• arka-varṇena: sun-colored
• arka-varṇena: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: arka (प्रातिपदिक) + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘sun-colored’

• bhāsvareṇa: dazzling
• bhāsvareṇa: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhāsvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण—‘shining’

• abhisaṃvṛtam: enclosed
• abhisaṃvṛtam: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhisaṃvṛta (कृदन्त; √vṛ (वृ) + abhi + sam + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘enclosed/surrounded’ (PPP)

Context

Hanuman, the great monkey, saw the royal mansion looking brilliant with elephants, horses and chariots. He thought that the palace was the very ornament of Lanka. He moved unnoticed into the close quarters of Ravana.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Rāvaṇa
• Laṅkā
• rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Dharma here is duty-bound resolve: Hanumān proceeds toward the enemy’s stronghold for a righteous mission, undistracted by fear or splendor.

What is the narrative situation?

After entering Laṅkā, Hanumān arrives at the fortified residence of Rāvaṇa to continue his search for Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage and steadiness of purpose—approaching a formidable, well-guarded place without wavering.