Shloka 7

रावणदर्शनम्

Hanuman Beholds Ravana in Court

Devanagari script

नीलाञ्जनचयप्रख्यं हारेणोरसि राजता।पूर्णचन्द्राभवक्त्रेण सबलाकमिवाम्बुदम्।।5.49.7।।

Transliteration

nīlāñjanacayaprakhyaṃ hāreṇorasi rājatā |

pūrṇacandrābhavaktreṇa sabalākam ivāmbudam ||5.49.7||

Translation

Sombre comme un amas de khôl, et pourtant sur sa poitrine brillait un collier de perles ; avec un visage pareil à la pleine lune, il ressemblait à un nuage éclairé par la lune, traversé par des grues blanches.

Word by Word

• नीलाञ्जनचयप्रख्यम्: resembling a mass of dark collyrium
• नीलाञ्जनचयप्रख्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील+अञ्जन+चय+प्रख्य (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'नील-अञ्जन-चय-सदृशम्' qualifying अम्बुदम्

• हारेण: with a necklace
• हारेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उरसि: on the chest
• उरसि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• राजता: shining/gleaming
• राजता: Kriya-visheshana (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √राज् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; शतृ-प्रत्यय (present participle) agreeing with implied subject (e.g., 'he/it shining')

• पूर्णचन्द्राभवक्त्रेण: with a face like the full moon
• पूर्णचन्द्राभवक्त्रेण: Karana (करण) / Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्ण+चन्द्र+आभ+वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (वक्त्र), तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'पूर्णचन्द्र-आभं वक्त्रं यस्य' used adjectivally

• सबलाकम्: with cranes (around)
• सबलाकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स+बलाक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'with cranes' qualifying अम्बुदम्

• इव: like
• इव: Upamana-marker (उपमान-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय

• अम्बुदम्: a cloud
• अम्बुदम्: Upameya (उपमेय) / Karma (कर्म) in descriptive construction
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बुद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Context

He was dressed in exquisite silk and smeared with red sandal paste and had many ornamental designs drawn on his body with fragrant unguents.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the contrast between appearance and essence: Dharma trains one to see beyond dazzling imagery and evaluate truth through deeds (karma).

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa’s visual majesty is further described through poetic similes as Hanumān studies him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Attentive intelligence—Hanumān’s careful observation supports right action in a hostile environment.