Shloka 53

लङ्कादर्शनं तथा रात्रौ सूक्ष्मरूपेण प्रवेशोपायचिन्तनम्

Vision of Lanka and Strategy for Nocturnal Entry

Devanagari script

वैडूर्यमणिचित्रैश्च मुक्ताजालविभूषितैः।तलैः शुशुभिरे तानि भवनान्यत्र रक्षसाम्।।।।

Transliteration

vaiḍūryamaṇicitraiś ca muktājālavibhūṣitaiḥ |

talaiḥ śuśubhire tāni bhavanāny atra rakṣasām ||

Translation

Là, les demeures des rākṣasas brillaient magnifiquement : leurs sols, ornés de gemmes de vaiḍūrya, étaient parés de treillis de perles.

Word by Word

• वैडूर्य-मणि-चित्रैः: decorated with cat's-eye gems
• वैडूर्य-मणि-चित्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैडूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + मणि (प्रातिपदिक) + चित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् तलैः इत्यस्य

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• मुक्ता-जाल-विभूषितैः: adorned with pearl-lattices
• मुक्ता-जाल-विभूषितैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुक्ता (प्रातिपदिक) + जाल (प्रातिपदिक) + विभूषित (कृदन्त, √भूष् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषण (क्त)

• तलैः: with floors
• तलैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• शुशुभिरे: shone/splendidly appeared
• शुशुभिरे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √शुभ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• तानि: those
• तानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• भवनानि: mansions
• भवनानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), बहुवचन

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• रक्षसाम्: of the demons
• रक्षसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

Context

Hanuman saw the city stretched with rows of buildings all over,with seven or eight storied mansions, which had pillars of gold and silver, windows with fretwork of gold, inlaid with crystals, floors decorated with gold, resembling the grand city of gandharvas.

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

The Ramayana repeatedly distinguishes outer brilliance from inner righteousness: wealth and beauty do not certify Dharma; ethical truth depends on conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān (through the narrator’s description) observes the opulent residences within Laṅkā as he continues his covert movement.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral clarity and focus: the surroundings impress the senses, but the mission remains centered on Satya and rescue.