Shloka 3

राक्षसेन्द्रनिवेशनविचारः

Survey of Ravana’s Residence and Lanka’s Inner Quarters

Devanagari script

रक्षितं राक्षसैर्घोरैः सिंहैरिव महद्वनम्।समीक्षमाणो भवनं चकाशे कपिकुञ्जरः।।।।

Transliteration

rakṣitaṁ rākṣasair ghoraiḥ siṁhair iva mahad vanam |

samīkṣamāṇo bhavanaṁ cakāśe kapikuñjaraḥ ||5.6.3||

Translation

Gardée par d’effroyables rākṣasas, telle une vaste forêt protégée par des lions, la demeure resplendissait tandis que l’« éléphant parmi les singes », Hanumān, l’observait.

Word by Word

• rakṣitam: guarded
• rakṣitam: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rakṣita (कृदन्त; √rakṣ (रक्ष्) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘protected/guarded’ (PPP)

• rākṣasaiḥ: by demons
• rākṣasaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• ghoraiḥ: terrible
• ghoraiḥ: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• siṃhaiḥ: by lions
• siṃhaiḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siṃha (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमार्थक-अव्यय

• mahat: great/large
• mahat: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• vanam: forest
• vanam: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपमान-रूपेण

• samīkṣamāṇaḥ: observing
• samīkṣamāṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: samīkṣamāṇa (कृदन्त; √īkṣ (ईक्ष्) + sam + शानच्)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शानच्), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; ‘while observing’

• bhavanam: mansion
• bhavanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• cakāśe: shone
• cakāśe: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kāś (काश्)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम; ‘shone/appeared bright’

• kapi-kuñjaraḥ: the foremost monkey
• kapi-kuñjaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapi (प्रातिपदिक) + kuñjara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘elephant among monkeys’

Context

The elephant among vanaras (Hanuman), scanned the mansion defended by dreadful demons like a forest protected by lions.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Rākṣasas
• Laṅkā (implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma requires courageous engagement with danger when the cause is righteous; Hanumān does not retreat from fear but assesses the situation truthfully and carefully.

What is the narrative situation?

Early in the search sequence, Hanumān surveys a heavily guarded mansion in Laṅkā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Brave vigilance: he is daring yet observant, balancing courage with careful judgment.