Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 3, Shloka 13

लङ्काप्रवेशः

Hanuman Enters Lanka and Encounters Laṅkā-devatā

Devanagari script

तां समीक्ष्य पुरीं रम्यां राक्षसाधिपतेः शुभाम्।अनुत्तमामृद्धियुतां चिन्तयामास वीर्यवान्।।।।

Transliteration

tāṃ samīkṣya purīṃ ramyāṃ rākṣasādhipateḥ śubhām |

anuttamām ṛddhiyutāṃ cintayāmāsa vīryavān ||

Translation

Après avoir examiné cette cité charmante et de bon augure, appartenant au seigneur des rākṣasas, sans pareille et comblée de prospérité, le vaillant Hanumān se mit à réfléchir.

Word by Word

• ताम्: that (city)
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun ‘that’ (fem. acc. sg.)

• समीक्ष्य: having observed
• समीक्ष्य: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), ‘having looked/observed’

• पुरीम्: city
• पुरीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (acc. sg.)

• रम्याम्: charming
• रम्याम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; adjective qualifying ‘पुरीम्’ (fem. acc. sg.)

• राक्षसाधिपतेः: of the demon-king
• राक्षसाधिपतेः: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस + अधिपति (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (gen.), एकवचन; ‘of the lord of demons’

• शुभाम्: auspicious
• शुभाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; qualifying ‘पुरीम्’

• अनुत्तमाम्: unsurpassed
• अनुत्तमाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; superlative sense ‘unsurpassed’ qualifying ‘पुरीम्’

• ऋद्धियुताम्: endowed with prosperity
• ऋद्धियुताम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऋद्धि + युत (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (instrumental/associative sense: ‘endowed with’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; qualifying ‘पुरीम्’

• चिन्तयामास: reflected
• चिन्तयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; parasmaipada; ‘he reflected/thought’

• वीर्यवान्: the valiant one
• वीर्यवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीर्यवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; adjective used substantively for Hanuman (nom. sg.)

Context

Gazing at the enchanting, auspicious, prosperous city of the king of demons mighty Hanuman began to reflect:

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Rāvaṇa
• Laṅkā
• rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Dharma includes wise deliberation: righteous aims should be pursued with careful thought, not impulsiveness—strength must be guided by discernment.

What is the narrative situation?

After observing Laṅkā’s magnificence, Hanumān shifts from wonder to strategic reflection.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Buddhi (judicious intelligence) allied with vīrya (valour).