Shloka 5.49.7

रावणदर्शनम् — Hanuman Beholds Ravana in Court

Devanagari script

नीलाञ्जनचयप्रख्यं हारेणोरसि राजता।पूर्णचन्द्राभवक्त्रेण सबलाकमिवाम्बुदम्।।5.49.7।।

Transliteration

asya krūrair nṛśaṃsaiś ca karmabhir lokakutsitaiḥ |

sarve bibhyati khalv asmāl lokāḥ sāmaradānavāḥ ||5.49.19||

ayaṃ hy utsahate kruddhaḥ kartum ekārṇavaṃ jagat |

Translation

Because of his cruel, pitiless deeds—condemned by the world—all beings truly fear him, even the Devas and the Dānavas. When enraged, he dares to turn the whole world into a single ocean.

Context

He was like a black mountain of collyrium, and with a face like the full-moon. With a pearl necklace illumining his chest he appeared like a cloud lit up by the full-moon with white cranes flying across. (The white pearl-necklace moving on his chest appeared like a row of cranes flying through the black cloud.)

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• amara (gods)
• dānava (demons)

FAQs

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

Adharma expressed through cruelty breeds fear and universal condemnation; true authority in Dharma inspires trust, not terror.

What is the narrative situation?

After seeing Rāvaṇa’s majesty and menace, Hanumān reflects on how Rāvaṇa’s infamous deeds make even gods and demons fear him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral discernment—Hanumān evaluates Rāvaṇa not by power but by the ethical quality of his actions (karma).