Shloka 5

राक्षसेन्द्रनिवेशनविचारः

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

Devanagari script

गजास्थितैर्महामात्रैः शूरैश्च विगतश्रमैः।उपस्थितमसंहार्यैः र्हयैः स्यन्दनयायिभिः।।।।

Transliteration

gajāsthitair mahāmātraiḥ śūraiś ca vigataśramaiḥ |

upasthitam asaṃhāryaiḥ hayaiḥ syandanayāyibhiḥ ||

Translation

Er sah die Zugänge stets bereitgehalten: bewacht von hohen Würdenträgern auf Elefanten und von tapferen, unermüdeten Kriegern, die auf Wagen fuhren, gezogen von unwiderstehlichen Rossen.

Word by Word

• gaja-sthitaiḥ: mounted on elephants
• gaja-sthitaiḥ: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gaja (प्रातिपदिक) + sthita (कृदन्त; √sthā (स्था) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘standing/mounted on elephants’

• mahā-mātraiḥ: by great officers
• mahā-mātraiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + mātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘great officers’

• śūraiḥ: brave
• śūraiḥ: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• vigata-śramaiḥ: unwearied
• vigata-śramaiḥ: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vigata (कृदन्त; √gam (गम्) + vi + क्त) + śrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘free from fatigue’

• upasthitam: kept ready
• upasthitam: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upasthita (कृदन्त; √sthā (स्था) + upa + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘kept ready/present’ (PPP)

• asaṃhāryaiḥ: irresistible
• asaṃhāryaiḥ: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: asaṃhārya (कृदन्त/तद्धित; a + sam + √hṛ (हृ) + ण्यत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘irresistible/not to be repelled’ (gerundive)

• hayaiḥ: with horses
• hayaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: haya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• syandana-yāyibhiḥ: with chariot-riders
• syandana-yāyibhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: syandana (प्रातिपदिक) + yāyin (प्रातिपदिक; from √yā (या) with -in)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘those who go in chariots (charioteers/chariot-riders)’

Context

Hanuman entered the delightful, lofty palace comparable to Kubera's mansion. It was filled with vessels encrusted with gems scattered all over. The floor was drenched with liquor. It was resonating with sounds of golden anklets of women and of drums. The rows of mansions, lofty palaces with welllaid apartments were full of hundreds of exquisite women.इत्यार्षे वाल्मीकीये श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये सुन्दरकाण्डे षष्ठस्सर्गः।।Thus ends the sixth sarga of Sundarakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Laṅkā (implied setting)
• elephants
• chariots
• horses

FAQs

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

The verse highlights rāja-dharma: a kingdom’s duty to maintain vigilant protection and readiness. Order and preparedness are presented as virtues of governance.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān, moving through Laṅkā at night, observes the city’s guarded approaches and military readiness.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanumān’s discernment and caution—he carefully assesses defenses rather than acting rashly.