Shloka 2

रावणान्तःपुरे शयनदर्शनम्

Hanumān Observes Rāvaṇa’s Inner Apartments and Sleeping Court

Devanagari script

तत्र दिव्योपमं मुख्यं स्फाटिकं रत्नभूषितम्।अवेक्षमाणो हनुमान् ददर्श शयनासनम्।।5.10.1।।दान्तकाञ्चनचित्राङ्गैर्वैडूर्यैश्च वरासनैः।महार्हास्तरणोपेतैरुपपन्नं महाधनैः।।5.10.2।।

Transliteration

dāntakāñcanacitrāṅgair vaiḍūryaiś ca varāsanaiḥ |

mahārhāstaraṇopetair upapannaṃ mahādhanaiḥ ||5.10.2||

Translation

Di sana Hanumān melihat sebuah dipan yang sangat mulia, dengan sandaran indah bertatah gading dan emas serta dihiasi permata vaidūrya; beralas hamparan mahal—layak bagi kekayaan agung.

Word by Word

• dānta-kāñcana-citrāṅgaiḥ: with parts inlaid with ivory and gold (variegated)
• dānta-kāñcana-citrāṅgaiḥ: Karana (करण/instrument/means)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dānta (प्रातिपदिक) + kāñcana (प्रातिपदिक) + citra (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (dāntena kāñcanena ca citrāṇi aṅgāni yaiḥ); नपुंसक/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; साधन/विशेषण (materials/inlay)

• vaiḍūryaiḥ: with vaidurya gems
• vaiḍūryaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaiḍūrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• vara-āsanaiḥ: with excellent seats/daises
• vara-āsanaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक) + āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (varāṇi āsanāni); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• mahārha-āstaraṇa-upetaiḥ: endowed with costly coverings
• mahārha-āstaraṇa-upetaiḥ: Karana (करण/attendant feature)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahārha (प्रातिपदिक) + āstaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + upeta (कृदन्त, upa-√i)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (mahārhaiḥ āstaraṇaiḥ upetaiḥ); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसक/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of the couch)

• upapannam: furnished/endowed
• upapannam: Karma (कर्म/object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa-√pad (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of śayanāsanam)

• mahā-dhanaiḥ: with great riches (very costly)
• mahā-dhanaiḥ: Karana (करण/means)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + dhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (mahāni dhanāni yaiḥ); नपुंसक/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (richly)

Context

Hanuman saw the great Ravana's arms, which were like a pair of Indra's flag staff adorned with golden straps. The arms bore the marks of wounds caused by Airavata, (Indra's elephant), torn by the thunderbolt of Indra in war, and wounded by the discus of Lord Visnu. His strong, fleshy, wellbuilt arms, having auspicious thumbnails, shapely fingers and palms, pressed together, resembled the iron crowbars or beam used for main doors. The arms resembled elephant's trunks, tossed on a clean bed, resembling two fivehooded snakes (fingers like hoods), besmeared with cool, fragrant, red sandalpaste of excellent quality which looked red like the hare's blood. They were well massaged by the best of women with fine, fragrant sandal paste. They were the arms which could make yakshas, pannagas, gods and demons roar in fear at their sight.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Vaidūrya (gem)

FAQs

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

The verse indirectly highlights discernment (viveka) as part of dharma: Hanumān carefully observes his surroundings with alertness and restraint, using perception in service of a righteous mission rather than being distracted by luxury.

What is the narrative situation?

Inside Laṅkā, Hanumān is searching for Sītā. In Rāvaṇa’s inner chambers he notices the opulent bed and furnishings, indicating the demon-king’s immense wealth and power.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanumān’s vigilance and self-control: he sees splendor but remains focused on the task entrusted to him.