Shloka 38

राक्षसेन्द्रनिवेशनविचारः

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

Devanagari script

स मन्दरगिरिप्रख्यं मयूरस्थानसङ्कुलम्।।।।ध्वजयष्टिभिराकीर्णं ददर्श भवनोत्तमम्।अनेकरत्नसङ्कीर्णं निधिजालं समन्ततः।।।।धीरनिष्ठितकर्मान्तं गृहं भूतपतेरिव।

Transliteration

sa mandaragiriprakhyaṁ mayūrasthānasaṅkulam || 5.6.38 ||

dhvajayaṣṭibhir ākīrṇaṁ dadarśa bhavanottamam |

Translation

Il vit un palais superbe, comparable au mont Mandara, foisonnant d’endroits où se rassemblaient les paons, et rempli de toutes parts de hampes portant des étendards.

Word by Word

• arcirbhiḥ: by the flames/splendours
• arcirbhiḥ: Karaṇa (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arcis (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (arcis often n.), Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (conjunction)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (particle)

• ratnānām: of gems
• ratnānām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana

• tejasā: by brilliance
• tejasā: Karaṇa (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana

• rāvaṇasya: of Ravana
• rāvaṇasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta

• virarāja: shone forth
• virarāja: Kriyā (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: rāj (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ (past/लङ्), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; Parasmaipada; with vi- (intensive brilliance)

• atha: then
• atha: Kāla-sambandha (Temporal marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Anantarya-avyaya (then/thereupon; sequencing particle/अनन्तर्य-अव्यय)

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā, Ekavacana; demonstrative used adjectivally with veśma

• veśma: mansion
• veśma: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veśman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• raśmimān: the radiant one (sun)
• raśmimān: Upamāna (Standard of comparison/उपमान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: raśmin + matup (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; matup-anta (possessive) 'having rays'

• iva: like
• iva: Upamāna-sūcaka
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-avyaya

• raśmibhiḥ: with rays
• raśmibhiḥ: Karaṇa (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raśmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

Context

Comparable to mount Mandara, it was crowded with peacocks, set with flag staffs fixed all over, magnificent mansions built by skilled craftsmen with great efforts, decked with gems of several kinds, rich with treasures comparable to Kailasa, the home of Siva, the Lord of all beings.

Characters & Entities

• Hanuman
• Peacocks
• Ravana (contextual, as palace owner)

FAQs

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

Dharma appears as truthful witnessing and discernment: splendor is acknowledged accurately, yet not mistaken for moral worth; Hanuman’s duty is to see clearly and proceed rightly.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanuman observes the architectural magnificence and ceremonial markers (flags) in Ravana’s palace complex.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Clear perception and steadiness: he registers details that matter for understanding the enemy’s strength and setting.