Shloka 37

राक्षसेन्द्रनिवेशनविचारः

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

Devanagari script

शिबिका विविधाकाराः स कपिर्मारुतात्मजः।लतागृहाणि चित्राणि चित्रशालागृहाणि च।।5.6.36।।क्रीडागृहाणि चान्यानि दारुपर्वतकानपि।कामस्य गृहकं रम्यं दिवागृहकमेव च।।5.6.37।।ददर्श राक्षसेन्द्रस्य रावणस्य निवेशने।

Transliteration

krīḍāgṛhāṇi cānyāni dāruparvatakān api |

kāmasya gṛhakaṁ ramyaṁ divāgṛhakam eva ca || 5.6.37 ||

dadarśa rākṣasendrasya rāvaṇasya niveśane |

Translation

In der Residenz Rāvaṇas, des Herrn der Rākṣasas, sah er auch andere Lusthäuser, künstliche Hügel aus Holz, ein reizvolles Gemach für Liebesspiele und gesonderte Räume für die Muße am Tage.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; pronoun

• mandaragiriprakhyam: like Mount Mandara
• mandaragiriprakhyam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mandara-giri + prakhya (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; Tatpuruṣa: mandaragirau prakhyam (comparable to Mount Mandara)

• mayūrasthānasaṅkulam: crowded with peacocks’ haunts
• mayūrasthānasaṅkulam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mayūra + sthāna + saṅkula (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; Tatpuruṣa: mayūrāṇāṃ sthānaiḥ saṅkulam (crowded with peacock-places)

• dhvajayaṣṭibhiḥ: with flag-staffs
• dhvajayaṣṭibhiḥ: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhvaja + yaṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Strīliṅga (yaṣṭi), Tṛtīyā (Instrumental/तृतीया), Bahuvacana; Tatpuruṣa: dhvajānāṃ yaṣṭayaḥ (flag-staffs)

• ākīrṇam: filled/studded
• ākīrṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā + kṝ (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: Kta-pratyaya past participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; from √kṝ/√kṛ (to scatter) with ā-; meaning 'filled, strewn'

• dadarśa: saw
• dadarśa: Kriyā (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ, Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

• bhavanottamam: the best mansion
• bhavanottamam: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavana + uttama (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; Karmadhāraya: uttamaṃ bhavanam (excellent mansion)

• anekaratnasaṅkīrṇam: strewn with many gems
• anekaratnasaṅkīrṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aneka + ratna + saṅkīrṇa (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; Tatpuruṣa: anekaiḥ ratnaiḥ saṅkīrṇam (strewn with many gems)

• nidhijālam: a mass of treasures
• nidhijālam: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nidhi + jāla (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; Tatpuruṣa: nidhīnām jālam (a net/collection of treasures)

• samantataḥ: on all sides
• samantataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samantatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; deśa-avyaya (adverb of place/देश-अव्यय)

• dhīraniṣṭhitakarmāntam: with workmanship firmly executed by skilled artisans
• dhīraniṣṭhitakarmāntam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhīra + niṣṭhita + karmānta (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; Tatpuruṣa (descriptive): dhīraiḥ niṣṭhitāḥ karmāntāḥ yasmin (whose workmanship is firmly executed by skilled ones)

• gṛham: house
• gṛham: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• bhūtapateḥ: of the lord of beings (Śiva)
• bhūtapateḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta + pati (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana; Tatpuruṣa: bhūtānāṃ patiḥ (lord of beings; Śiva)

• iva: like
• iva: Upamāna (Simile-marker/उपमान-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-avyaya (comparative particle/उपमा-अव्यय)

Context

The son of the Windgod saw at the palace of Ravana, the lord of demons, colourful palanquins of several kinds, bowers, picture galleries, spots for sporting, hillocks (artificial) made of wood, apartments for romance, for pleasures and day time activities.

Characters & Entities

• Hanuman
• Ravana
• Rakshasas

FAQs

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

The verse contrasts indulgence with duty: Hanuman’s dharma is to stay focused on Sita’s search, not be swayed by the architecture of pleasure that symbolizes unchecked desire.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanuman’s reconnaissance continues deeper into the palace, where he observes spaces designed for entertainment and sensual enjoyment.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Single-pointed dedication (niṣṭhā): despite seeing kāma-oriented spaces, he remains a disciplined messenger of Rama.