Shloka 5.10.20

रावणान्तःपुरे शयनदर्शनम् (Hanumān Observes Rāvaṇa’s Inner Apartments and Sleeping Court)

Devanagari script

काञ्चनाङ्गदसन्नध्दै च ददर्श स महात्मनः।विक्षिप्तौ राक्षसेन्द्रस्य भुजाविन्द्रध्वजोपमौ।।5.10.15।।ऐरावतविषाणाग्रैरापीडनकृतव्रणौ।वज्रोल्लिखितपीनांसौ विष्णुचक्रपरिक्षतौ।।5.10.16।।पीनौ समसुजातांसौ संगतौ बलसंयुतौ।सुलक्षणनखाङ्गुष्ठा स्वङ्गुलीतललक्षितौ।।5.10.17।।संहतौ परिघाकारौ वृत्तौ करिकरोपमौ।विक्षिप्तौ शयने शुभ्रे पञ्चशीर्षाविवोरगौ।।5.10.18।।शशक्षतजकल्पेन सुशीतेन सुगन्धिना।चन्दनेन परार्ध्येन स्वनुलिप्तौ स्वलङ्कृतौ।।5.10.19।।उत्तमस्त्रीविमृदितौ गन्धोत्तमनिषेवितौ।यक्षपन्नगगन्धर्वदेवदानवराविणौ।।5.10.20।।

Transliteration

uttamastrīvimṛditau gandhottamaniṣevitau |

yakṣapannagagandharvadevadānavarāviṇau ||5.10.20||

Translation

They were massaged by the finest women and tended with the choicest perfumes—arms whose very might could make yakṣas, nāgas, gandharvas, gods, and dānavas cry out in fear.

Context

Hanuman saw the great Ravana's arms, which were like a pair of Indra's flag staff adorned with golden straps. The arms bore the marks of wounds caused by Airavata, (Indra's elephant), torn by the thunderbolt of Indra in war, and wounded by the discus of Lord Visnu. His strong, fleshy, wellbuilt arms, having auspicious thumbnails, shapely fingers and palms, pressed together, resembled the iron crowbars or beam used for main doors. The arms resembled elephant's trunks, tossed on a clean bed, resembling two fivehooded snakes (fingers like hoods), besmeared with cool, fragrant, red sandalpaste of excellent quality which looked red like the hare's blood. They were well massaged by the best of women with fine, fragrant sandal paste. They were the arms which could make yakshas, pannagas, gods and demons roar in fear at their sight.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Yakṣa
• Pannaga (Nāga/serpents)
• Gandharva
• Deva
• Dānava

FAQs

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

Power without dharma becomes a source of terror rather than protection. The verse frames Rāvaṇa’s strength as fear-inducing—implying that true greatness in the Ramayana is strength governed by righteousness and truth.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān continues his close observation of the sleeping Rāvaṇa, noting both the luxurious service around him and the legendary fear his arms inspire among supernatural beings.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanumān’s fearlessness and steadiness: he can witness intimidating signs of Rāvaṇa’s might without losing resolve in his dharmic mission.