Shloka 12

रावणान्तःपुरे शयनदर्शनम्

Hanumān Observes Rāvaṇa’s Inner Apartments and Sleeping Court

Devanagari script

निःश्वसन्तं यथा नागं रावणं वानरर्षभः।आसाद्य परमोद्विग्नस्सोपासर्पत्सुभीतवत्।।।।

Transliteration

niḥśvasantaṃ yathā nāgaṃ rāvaṇaṃ vānararṣabhaḥ |

āsādya paramodvignaḥ sopāsarpat subhītavat ||

Translation

蛇のように荒く息づくラーヴァナに近づいたとき、猿たちの雄牛たる者は激しく動揺し、まるで不意の恐怖に打たれたかのように後ずさった。

Word by Word

• निःश्वसन्तम्: breathing heavily
• निःश्वसन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निḥ-श्वस् (धातु)→निःश्वसन्त् (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of रावणम्)

• यथा: like/as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा/प्रकार-अव्यय (comparative adverb)

• नागम्: a serpent/elephant (here: serpent)
• नागम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपमान (standard of comparison)

• रावणम्: Rāvaṇa
• रावणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• वानर-ऋषभः: the bull among monkeys
• वानर-ऋषभः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: वानराणां ऋषभः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्ता

• आसाद्य: having approached
• आसाद्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√सद्/आ-√साद् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वा-समकक्ष अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): ‘having reached/approached’

• परम-उद्विग्नः: greatly agitated/terrified
• परम-उद्विग्नः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्विग्न (कृदन्त; उद्-√विज्)
• Form: कर्मधारय: परमः उद्विग्नः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of वानरर्षभः)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्ता-सम्बन्धी

• उपासर्पत्: crept/withdrew
• उपासर्पत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-√सृप् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/लङ्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सुभीतवत्: like one extremely afraid
• सुभीतवत्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सुभीतवत् (प्रातिपदिक; -वत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: वत्-प्रत्ययान्त उपमा-अव्यय (adverbial ‘like one who...’)

Context

Having reached Ravana, who was breathing (hissing) like a snake, Hanuman was for a moment frightened and drew away from him as if he was put to terrible fear.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Rāvaṇa
• serpent (nāga) (simile)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes prudent restraint: even the brave acknowledge danger and regulate action. Hanumān’s momentary withdrawal is not cowardice but strategic self-governance.

What is the narrative situation?

At very close range to the sleeping Rāvaṇa, Hanumān senses the threat (his hissing breath) and instinctively steps back.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence joined to courage—Hanumān manages fear and avoids rash engagement that could imperil the mission.