Shloka 8

रावणान्तःपुर-पानभूमि-विचयः

Hanumān’s Survey of Rāvaṇa’s Inner Palace and Banquet Hall

Devanagari script

तासां मध्ये महाबाहुः शुशुभे राक्षसेश्वरः।।5.11.8।।गोष्ठे महति मुख्यानां गवां मध्ये यथा वृषः।

Transliteration

tāsāṃ madhye mahābāhuḥ śuśubhe rākṣaseśvaraḥ || 5.11.8 ||

goṣṭhe mahati mukhyānāṃ gavāṃ madhye yathā vṛṣaḥ |

Translation

Au milieu d’elles resplendissait le souverain des rākshasas, aux longs bras, tel un taureau puissant au milieu des plus belles vaches dans une vaste étable.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• rākṣasa-indraḥ: king of rākṣasas
• rākṣasa-indraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (राक्षसानाम् इन्द्रः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• śuśubhe: shone
• śuśubhe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śubh (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार, आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• tābhiḥ: with those (women)
• tābhiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (सह/करण), बहुवचन; ‘by/with those (women)’

• parivṛtaḥ: surrounded
• parivṛtaḥ: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parivṛta (प्रातिपदिक; pari+√vṛ)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate adjective

• svayam: himself
• svayam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (emphatic: himself)

• kareṇubhiḥ: by/with female elephants
• kareṇubhiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kareṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• yathā: like
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/comparison)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानार्थक-अव्यय

• araṇye: in the forest
• araṇye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: araṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• parikīrṇaḥ: surrounded/scattered around
• parikīrṇaḥ: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parikīrṇa (प्रातिपदिक; pari+√kṝ)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• mahā-dvipaḥ: a great elephant
• mahā-dvipaḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + dvipa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महान् द्विपः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

'I searched all over Ravana's harem with a pure mind but I have not seen Janaki'.

Characters & Entities

• Ravana

FAQs

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

The verse highlights worldly dominance and splendor, setting the ethical tension: power without dharma can appear magnificent, yet it stands opposed to righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanuman’s search reveals Ravana among his women, portrayed in a vivid simile emphasizing his commanding presence.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By implication, Hanuman’s courage (śaurya) and composure—he continues his mission even after seeing Ravana at close range.