Shloka 24

लङ्कादर्शनं तथा रात्रौ सूक्ष्मरूपेण प्रवेशोपायचिन्तनम्

Vision of Lanka and Strategy for Nocturnal Entry

Devanagari script

कैलासशिखरप्रख्यामालिखन्तीमिवाम्बरम्।डीयमानामिवाकाशमुच्छ्रितैर्भवनोत्तमैः।।5.2.23।।सम्पूर्णां राक्षसैर्घोरैर्नागैर्भोगवतीमिव।अचिन्त्यां सुकृतां स्पष्टां कुबेराध्युषितां पुरा।।5.2.24।।दंष्ट्रिभिर्बहुभिः शूरैः शूलपट्टसपाणिभिः।रक्षितां राक्षसैर्घोरैर्गुहामाशीविषैरिव।।5.2.25।।तस्याश्च महतीं गुप्तिं सागरं च निरीक्ष्य सः।रावणं च रिपुं घोरं चिन्तयामास वानरः।।5.2.26।।

Transliteration

kailāsaśikharaprakhyām ālikhantīm ivāmbaram | ḍīyamānām ivākāśam ucchritair bhavanottamaiḥ ||

sampūrṇāṃ rākṣasair ghorair nāgair bhogavatīm iva | acintyāṃ sukṛtāṃ spaṣṭāṃ kuberādhyuṣitāṃ purā ||

daṃṣṭribhir bahubhiḥ śūraiḥ śūlapaṭṭasapāṇibhiḥ | rakṣitāṃ rākṣasair ghorair guhām āśīviṣair iva ||

tasyāś ca mahatīṃ guptiṃ sāgaraṃ ca nirīkṣya saḥ | rāvaṇaṃ ca ripuṃ ghoraṃ cintayāmāsa vānaraḥ ||

Translation

ಲಂಕೆಯು ಕೈಲಾಸಶಿಖರದಂತೆ ಉನ್ನತವಾಗಿ, ಆಕಾಶವನ್ನೇ ಸವರಿಸುವಂತೆ ಕಾಣುತ್ತಿತ್ತು; ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠ ಭವನಗಳು ಎತ್ತರಕ್ಕೆ ಏರಿ, ಹಾರುತ್ತಿರುವಂತೆಯೇ ಭಾಸವಾಗುತ್ತಿದವು. ಭಯಾನಕ ರಾಕ್ಷಸರು ಮತ್ತು ನಾಗಗಳಿಂದ ಅದು ತುಂಬಿ, ಭೋಗವತಿಪುರಿಯಂತೆ; ಅಚಿಂತ್ಯವಾಗಿ, ಸುಕೃತವಾಗಿ, ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟವಾಗಿ ನಿರ್ಮಿತವಾಗಿದ್ದು, ಪೂರ್ವದಲ್ಲಿ ಕುಬೇರನ ನಿವಾಸದಿಂದ ಪವಿತ್ರವಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಅನೇಕ ದಂಷ್ಟ್ರಗಳಿರುವ ಶೂರ ರಾಕ್ಷಸರು ಶೂಲ-ಪಟ್ಟಸಗಳನ್ನು ಹಿಡಿದು ಅದನ್ನು ಕಾಪಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು; ವಿಷಸರ್ಪಗಳಿಂದ ರಕ್ಷಿತ ಗುಹೆಯಂತೆ ಅದು ತೋರುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಅದರ ಮಹಾ ರಕ್ಷಣಾವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆಯನ್ನೂ ಸುತ್ತಲಿನ ಸಾಗರವನ್ನೂ ನೋಡಿ, ವಾನರನು ಭಯಂಕರ ಶತ್ರು ರಾವಣನ ಕುರಿತು ಚಿಂತಿಸಿದನು.

Word by Word

इमाम्this

तुbut

विषमाम्difficult/uneven

दुर्गाम्hard to access/fortified

लङ्काम्Lanka

रावण-पालिताम्ruled/guarded by Rāvaṇa

प्राप्यhaving reached

अपिeven if

सःhe

महाबाहुःthe great-armed one

किम्what

करिष्यतिwill do

राघवःRāghava (Rama)

Context

Observing Lanka that resembled mount Kailas, with sky scrapers appearing as if flying, filled with dreadful demons and nagas protecting the city of Bhogavati (the city of Patala), unimaginably wellbuilt. It was once occupied by Kubera (half brother of Ravana). It was guarded by horrible demons holding tridents and spears in their hands. The city appeared like a cavern protected by venomous serpents with protruding fangs. Hanuman examined the high security of Lanka and looked at the ocean. He thought of the form of Ravana, a formidable enemy:

Characters & Entities

Hanumān

Laṅkā

Kailāsa

rākṣasa

nāga

Kubera

Rāvaṇa

ocean (sāgara)

śūla (trident)

paṭṭasa (spear)

FAQs

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

Dharma is portrayed as courageous responsibility guided by clear-eyed evaluation: Hanumān studies threats (guards, ocean, enemy leader) so that his Satya-driven mission is executed without recklessness.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān surveys Laṅkā’s daunting height, population of fierce guardians, and historical association with Kubera; then he considers the practical challenge posed by the ocean and by Rāvaṇa himself.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fearless steadiness with strategic intelligence: Hanumān neither panics nor underestimates the enemy; he prepares mentally for righteous action.