Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 5, Shloka 10

चन्द्रप्रकाशे लङ्कानिरीक्षणम्

Moonlit Survey of Lanka and the Unfound Sita

Devanagari script

मत्तप्रमत्तानि समाकुलानि रथाश्वभद्रासनसङ्कुलानि।वीरश्रिया चापि समाकुलानि ददर्श धीमान् स कपिः कुलानि।।5.5.10।।

Transliteration

mattapramattāni samākulāni rathāśvabhadrāsanasaṅkulāni |vīraśriyā cāpi samākulāni dadarśa dhīmān sa kapiḥ kulāni ||5.5.10||

Translation

Kapi Hanumān yang bijaksana melihat istana-istana yang sesak oleh kereta dan kuda dengan pelana serta tempat duduk indah; juga penuh oleh kemegahan para pahlawan—namun sekaligus riuh oleh rākṣasa yang mabuk dan terhuyung-huyung.

Word by Word

• matta-pramattāni: intoxicated and heedless
• matta-pramattāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: matta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + pramatta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva (itaretara): ‘intoxicated and careless’; Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Prathamā, Bahuvacana (qualifying kulāni)

• samākulāni: crowded/confused
• samākulāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samākula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• ratha-aśva-bhadrāsana-saṅkulāni: filled with chariots, horses, and fine seats
• ratha-aśva-bhadrāsana-saṅkulāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक) + aśva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhadrāsana (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅkula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: ‘crowded with chariots, horses, and fine seats’; Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• vīra-śriyā: with heroic splendour
• vīra-śriyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक) + śrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: ‘heroic splendour’; Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana (instrumental: ‘by/with’)

• ca: and
• ca: Sam uccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle ‘also’

• samākulāni: crowded
• samākulāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samākula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• dadarśa: saw
• dadarśa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (Perfect), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana

• dhīmān: intelligent
• dhīmān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhīmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; matup-anta

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• kapiḥ: the monkey (Hanuman)
• kapiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• kulāni: houses/families
• kulāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Dvitīyā (द्वितीया/2nd), Bahuvacana

Context

Intelligent Hanuman, the great warrior, observed there in the prosperous mansions, demons proud of their wealth, highly intoxicated and dull, their houses full of horse-drawn chariots with comfortable seats.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Laṅkā
• Rākṣasas (demons)

FAQs

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

It contrasts outer prosperity with inner disorder: dharma values self-control and clarity, while intoxication and negligence indicate adharma despite wealth and power.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān, moving through Laṅkā at night, observes the rākṣasa residences—richly equipped yet morally and mentally lax.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discernment (viveka): Hanumān can evaluate appearances versus reality, an essential virtue for righteous action.