Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 49, Shloka 17

रावणदर्शनम्

Hanuman Beholds Ravana in Court

Devanagari script

अहो रूपमहो धैर्यमहो सत्त्वमहो द्युतिः।अहो राक्षसराजस्य सर्वलक्षणयुक्तता।।5.49.17।।

Transliteration

aho rūpam aho dhairyam aho sattvam aho dyutiḥ | aho rākṣasarājasya sarvalakṣaṇayuktatā ||5.49.17||

Translation

ಅಹೋ, ಎಂಥ ರೂಪ! ಅಹೋ, ಎಂಥ ಧೈರ್ಯ! ಅಹೋ, ಎಂಥ ಸತ್ತ್ವ! ಅಹೋ, ಎಂಥ ತೇಜಸ್ಸು! ಈ ರಾಕ್ಷಸರಾಜನಲ್ಲಿ ಸರ್ವ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠ ಲಕ್ಷಣಗಳೂ ಸಮ್ಯಕ್‌ವಾಗಿ ಯುಕ್ತವಾಗಿವೆ ಎಂಬುದು ಅಚ್ಚರಿಯೇ.

Word by Word

• aho: ah!/how wonderful
• aho: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aho (अव्यय)
• Form: विस्मयादिबोधक निपात (exclamatory particle)

• rūpam: form/beauty
• rūpam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa (रूप प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• aho: ah!
• aho: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aho (अव्यय)
• Form: विस्मय निपात

• dhairyam: courage/steadfastness
• dhairyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhairya (धैर्य प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• aho: ah!
• aho: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aho (अव्यय)
• Form: विस्मय निपात

• sattvam: strength/spirit
• sattvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sattva (सत्त्व प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• aho: ah!
• aho: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aho (अव्यय)
• Form: विस्मय निपात

• dyutiḥ: radiance
• dyutiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dyuti (द्युति प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• aho: ah!
• aho: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aho (अव्यय)
• Form: विस्मय निपात

• rākṣasa-rājasya: of the demon-king
• rākṣasa-rājasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (राक्षस) + rājan (राजन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (राक्षसानां राजा = king of demons)

• sarva-lakṣaṇa-yuktatā: possession of all auspicious qualities
• sarva-lakṣaṇa-yuktatā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (सर्व) + lakṣaṇa (लक्षण) + yuktatā (युक्तता)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सर्वलक्षणैः युक्तता = endowment with all marks/qualities)

Context

'Oh! what charm! what courage! what strength! what splendour! How great is this demon-king, an endowment of all merits.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Rāvaṇa (rākṣasarāja)

FAQs

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

Ethical perception can acknowledge an enemy’s virtues truthfully (satya) while still condemning adharma; dharma does not require denial of facts.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanuman, observing Ravana, mentally enumerates his impressive qualities and kingly marks.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Satya and fairness of judgment: Hanuman can recognize excellence even in an adversary.