Shloka 1

रावणान्तःपुरे शयनदर्शनम्

Hanumān Observes Rāvaṇa’s Inner Apartments and Sleeping Court

Devanagari script

तत्र दिव्योपमं मुख्यं स्फाटिकं रत्नभूषितम्।अवेक्षमाणो हनुमान् ददर्श शयनासनम्।।।।दान्तकाञ्चनचित्राङ्गैर्वैडूर्यैश्च वरासनैः।महार्हास्तरणोपेतैरुपपन्नं महाधनैः।।।।

Transliteration

tatra divyopamaṃ mukhyaṃ sphāṭikaṃ ratnabhūṣitam |

avekṣamāṇo hanumān dadarśa śayanāsanam ||

dāntakāñcana-citrāṅgair vaiḍūryaiś ca varāsanaiḥ |

mahārha-āstaraṇopetair upapannaṃ mahādhanaiḥ ||

Translation

അവിടെ ഹനുമാൻ ചുറ്റും നോക്കിക്കൊണ്ടിരിക്കെ, മുഖ്യമായ ദിവ്യോപമമായ ഒരു ശയനാസനം കണ്ടു—സ്ഫടികനിർമ്മിതം, രത്നങ്ങളാൽ അലങ്കരിച്ചത്; ദന്തവും കാഞ്ചനവും ചേർത്ത് ചിത്രിതമായ ഭാഗങ്ങളുള്ളത്, വൈഡൂര്യരത്നം പതിപ്പിച്ച ഉത്തമാസനങ്ങളോടുകൂടിയത്; അത്യന്തം വിലയേറിയ വിരിപ്പുകളാൽ സജ്ജമായി മഹാസമ്പത്തിനൊത്തത്.

Word by Word

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय

• divya-upamam: of heavenly splendor
• divya-upamam: Karma (कर्म/object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: divya (प्रातिपदिक) + upama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (divyā upamā yasya); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of śayanāsanam)

• mukhyam: principal/foremost
• mukhyam: Karma (कर्म/object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mukhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• sphāṭikam: crystal (made)
• sphāṭikam: Karma (कर्म/object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sphāṭika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्रव्यविशेषण (crystal-made)

• ratna-bhūṣitam: adorned with gems
• ratna-bhūṣitam: Karma (कर्म/object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ratna (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūṣita (कृदन्त, √bhūṣ)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (ratnaiḥ bhūṣitam); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• avekṣamāṇaḥ: looking around
• avekṣamāṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/agent)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-√īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तरि

• hanumān: Hanuman
• hanumān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hanumat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• dadarśa: saw
• dadarśa: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• śayana-āsanam: a couch/bed-seat
• śayana-āsanam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śayana (प्रातिपदिक) + āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (śayanaṃ ca āsanaṃ ca); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (समाहार-द्वन्द्व)

Context

Looking around, Hanuman noticed a bed chamber, with a heavenly dais on which he saw a couch encrusted with crystals, vaidurya, and inlaid with colourful ivory and gold. It had an exquisite rich covering.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• vaidūrya (gem)

FAQs

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

The verse foregrounds discernment and vigilance: Hanumān carefully observes his surroundings before acting. In dharma-terms, right action is grounded in attentive awareness rather than impulse.

What is the narrative situation?

Inside Laṅkā’s inner chambers, Hanumān surveys the opulent sleeping quarters and notices a magnificent couch, setting the stage for his encounter with Rāvaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanumān’s alertness and self-control—he investigates methodically, maintaining focus on his mission.