Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 3, Shloka 3

लङ्काप्रवेशः

Hanuman Enters Lanka and Encounters Laṅkā-devatā

Devanagari script

शारदाम्बुधरप्रख्यैर्भवनैरुपशोभिताम्।सागरोपमनिर्घोषां सागरानिलसेविताम्।।।।सुपुष्टबलसम्पुष्टां यथैव विटपावतीम्।चारुतोरणनिर्यूहां पाण्डुरद्वारतोरणाम्।।।।भुजगाचरितां गुप्तां शुभां भोगवतीमिव।तां स विद्युद्घनाकीर्णां ज्योतिर्मार्गनिषेविताम्।।।।मन्दमारुतसञ्चारां यथेन्द्रस्यामरावतीम्।शातकुम्भेन महता प्राकारेणाभिसंवृताम्।।।।किङ्किणीजालघोषाभिः पताकाभिरलङ्कृताम्।आसाद्य सहसा हृष्टः प्राकारमभिपेदिवान्।।।।

Transliteration

śāradāmbudharaprakhyair bhavanair upaśobhitām | sāgaropama-nirghoṣāṃ sāgarānila-sevitām ||

supuṣṭa-bala-sampuṣṭāṃ yathaiva viṭapāvatīm | cāru-toraṇa-niryūhāṃ pāṇḍura-dvāra-toraṇām ||

bhujagācaritāṃ guptāṃ śubhāṃ bhogavatīm iva | tāṃ sa vidyud-ghanākīrṇāṃ jyotir-mārga-niṣevitām ||

manda-māruta-sañcārāṃ yathendrasyāmarāvatīm | śātakumbhena mahatā prākāreṇābhisaṃvṛtām ||

kiṅkiṇī-jāla-ghoṣābhiḥ patākābhir alaṅkṛtām | āsādya sahasā hṛṣṭaḥ prākāram abhipedivān ||

Translation

ເມື່ອຮານຸມານມາຮອດລັງກາ ກໍປິຕິຍິນດີ ແລະພຸ້ນໄປຫາກຳແພງປ້ອມທັນທີ ແລ້ວພິຈາລະນານະຄອນນັ້ນ: ງາມດ້ວຍວິຫານແລະຄະຫາສະນາດດຸດເມກລະດູສາຣະທ; ກຶກກ້ອງດຸດທະເລ ແລະຊຸ່ມຊື່ນດ້ວຍລົມທະເລ; ແຂງແຮງດ້ວຍກອງທັບທີ່ຖືກບຳລຸງດີ ດຸດວິຏປາວະຕີ; ມີປະຕູງາມ ແລະຊຸ້ມປະຕູຂາວນວນ; ຖືກພິທັກຮັກສາຢ່າງແນ່ນຫນາ ເປັນມົງຄຸນ ດຸດໂພກະວະຕີ ເມືອງນາຄ; ຖືກປົກຄຸມດ້ວຍກຸ່ມເມກອຸ້ມຟ້າຜ່າ ແລະມີເສັ້ນທາງແຫ່ງດາວເປັນດັ່ງທາງແສງ; ມີລົມອ່ອນໆ ດຸດອະມະຣາວະຕີຂອງພຣະອິນທຣ; ຖືກລ້ອມດ້ວຍກຳແພງທອງອັນໃຫຍ່; ແລະປະດັບດ້ວຍທຸງທິວ ພ້ອມສຽງກິ່ງກັງຂອງຕາຂ່າຍກະດິ່ງ.

Word by Word

• śāradāmbudharaprakhyaiḥ: with (things) resembling autumn clouds
• śāradāmbudharaprakhyaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śārada + ambudhara + prakhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (करण/Instrumental, 3rd), Bahuvacana; samāsa: śārada-ambudhara (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष as 'autumn-cloud') + prakhya (उपमान-तत्पुरुष: 'like')

• bhavanaiḥ: with mansions
• bhavanaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Tṛtīyā (Instrumental, 3rd), Bahuvacana

• upaśobhitām: adorned
• upaśobhitām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa-√śubh (शुभ्) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana; kta-participle (भूतकर्मणि/Passive past participle): 'adorned/beautified'

• sāgara-upama-nirghoṣām: having a roar like the sea
• sāgara-upama-nirghoṣām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sāgara + upama + nirghoṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana; samāsa: upama-tatpurusha ('like the sea') qualifying nirghoṣa ('roar/sound')

• sāgara-anila-sevitām: served by the sea-breeze
• sāgara-anila-sevitām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sāgara + anila + sevita (√sev सेव् + kta)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana; kta-participle; samāsa: sāgara-anila (षष्ठी/तत्पुरुष: 'sea-breeze') + sevita ('served by')

• supuṣṭa-bala-sampuṣṭām: well-fortified by a well-nourished army
• supuṣṭa-bala-sampuṣṭām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su-puṣṭa + bala + saṃ-puṣṭa (√puṣ पुष् + kta)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana; samāsa: bala-sampuṣṭa (तत्पुरुष: 'strengthened by army/force'); supuṣṭa as intensifier 'well-nourished/very strong'

• yathā: as/like
• yathā: Sambandha/Upamā (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-avyaya (comparative indeclinable)

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (particle), emphasis

• viṭapāvatīm: Vitapāvatī (city)
• viṭapāvatīm: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṭapāvatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana; proper noun (city-name)

• cāru-tōraṇa-niryūhām: having beautiful archway-projections
• cāru-tōraṇa-niryūhām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cāru + tōraṇa + niryūha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana; samāsa: cāru-tōraṇa (कर्मधारय: 'beautiful-arches') + niryūha ('projections/porticoes/arrangements')

• pāṇḍura-dvāra-tōraṇām: with pale/white gates and arches
• pāṇḍura-dvāra-tōraṇām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāṇḍura + dvāra + tōraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana; samāsa: dvāra-tōraṇa (तत्पुरुष: 'gate-arches') qualified by pāṇḍura ('white/pale')

• bhujaga-ācaritām: inhabited by serpents
• bhujaga-ācaritām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhujaga + ācarita (√car चर् + kta with ā-)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana; kta-participle; samāsa: bhujaga-ācarita (तत्पुरुष: 'frequented/inhabited by serpents')

• guptām: guarded
• guptām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gupta (√gup गुप् + kta)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana; kta-participle: 'protected/guarded'

• śubhām: auspicious
• śubhām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana

• bhōgavatīm: Bhōgavatī (serpent-city)
• bhōgavatīm: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhōgavatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana; proper noun (Nāga-city)

• iva: like/as if
• iva: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-avyaya (comparative particle)

• tām: that (city)
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana; sarvanāma (pronoun)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative, 1st), Ekavacana; sarvanāma

• vidyut-ghana-ākīrṇām: filled with lightning-clouds
• vidyut-ghana-ākīrṇām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vidyut + ghana + ākīrṇa (ā-√kṝ/√kṛ? actually √kṝ 'to scatter' kta: ākīrṇa)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana; kta-participle; samāsa: vidyut-ghana (कर्मधारय: 'lightning-cloud') + ākīrṇa ('filled/strewn with')

• jyotis-mārga-niṣēvitām: frequented by the paths of lights (stars/planets)
• jyotis-mārga-niṣēvitām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jyotis + mārga + niṣēvita (ni-√sev सेव् + kta)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana; kta-participle; samāsa: jyotis-mārga (तत्पुरुष: 'path of lights' = stellar paths) + niṣēvita ('frequented by')

• manda-māruta-sañcārām: with gentle breezes moving about
• manda-māruta-sañcārām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: manda + māruta + sañcāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana; samāsa: manda-māruta (कर्मधारय: 'gentle wind') + sañcāra ('movement/circulation')

• yathā: as/like
• yathā: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-avyaya

• indrasya: of Indra
• indrasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive, 6th), Ekavacana

• amarāvatīm: Amarāvatī
• amarāvatīm: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amarāvatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana; proper noun

• śātakumbhēna: with gold
• śātakumbhēna: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śātakumbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (or Puṃliṅga usage), Tṛtīyā (Instrumental, 3rd), Ekavacana; 'gold'

• mahatā: great
• mahatā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/Napuṃsaka agreeing with prākāra; Tṛtīyā (Instrumental, 3rd), Ekavacana

• prākārēṇa: by/with a rampart
• prākārēṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prākāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instrumental, 3rd), Ekavacana

• abhisaṃvṛtām: enclosed all around
• abhisaṃvṛtām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi-saṃ-√vṛ (वृ) + kta
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana; kta-participle: 'enclosed/surrounded on all sides'

• kiṅkiṇī-jāla-ghōṣābhiḥ: with the sounds of nets of small bells
• kiṅkiṇī-jāla-ghōṣābhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kiṅkiṇī + jāla + ghōṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instrumental, 3rd), Bahuvacana; samāsa: kiṅkiṇī-jāla (तत्पुरुष: 'net of bells') + ghōṣa ('sound'); plural instrumental 'with sounds'

• patākābhiḥ: with flags
• patākābhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patākā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instrumental, 3rd), Bahuvacana

• alaṅkṛtām: decorated
• alaṅkṛtām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: alaṃ-√kṛ (कृ) + kta
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana; kta-participle: 'decorated'

• āsādya: having reached
• āsādya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√sad (सद्) + lyap (क्त्वा/ल्यप्)
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund) in -ya (ल्यप्): 'having reached/approached'

• sahasā: suddenly/at once
• sahasā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sahasā (अव्यय)
• Form: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa-avyaya (adverb)

• hṛṣṭaḥ: delighted
• hṛṣṭaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hṛṣṭa (√hṛṣ हृष् + kta)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative, 1st), Ekavacana; kta-participle used adjectivally: 'delighted'

• prākāram: the rampart
• prākāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prākāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana

• abhipēdivān: approached/inspected
• abhipēdivān: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√pad (पद्) + liṭ (परस्मैपद)
• Form: Liṭ (Perfect, लिट्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana, Parasmaipada; idiomatic: 'approached/inspected/assailed' (context: 'went up to/observed')

Context

"I would like to see this Lanka with market-places, gateways and ramparts. I have come here for that purpose. My curiosity has been roused to see this place.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Laṅkā
• Sāgara (ocean)
• Viṭapāvatī
• Pātāla
• Amarāvatī
• Indra

FAQs

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

Disciplined perception in service of dharma: Hanumān’s careful surveying is not idle wonder but focused observation supporting a righteous mission (locating Sītā and aiding Rāma).

What is the narrative situation?

After arriving in Laṅkā, Hanumān reaches the rampart and visually assesses the city’s splendor and defenses.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Alertness and strategic awareness (buddhi-yukta vīrya): he takes in details of gates, walls, and atmosphere as part of reconnaissance.