Shloka 31

रावणान्तःपुरे शयनदर्शनम्

Hanumān Observes Rāvaṇa’s Inner Apartments and Sleeping Court

Devanagari script

शशिप्रकाशवदनाश्चारुकुण्डलभूषिताः।अम्लानमाल्याभरणा ददर्श हरियूथपः।।।।

Transliteration

śaśiprakāśa-vadanāś cāru-kuṇḍala-bhūṣitāḥ |

amlāna-mālyābharaṇā dadarśa hariyūthapaḥ ||

Translation

ഹരിയൂഥപനായ ഹനുമാൻ ചന്ദ്രപ്രകാശംപോലെ ദീപ്തമായ മുഖങ്ങളുള്ള, മനോഹര കർണകുണ്ഡലങ്ങളാൽ അലങ്കരിക്കപ്പെട്ട, വാടാത്ത മാലകളും ആഭരണങ്ങളും ധരിച്ച സ്ത്രീകളെ കണ്ടു.

Word by Word

• शशि-प्रकाश-वदनाः: women whose faces shone like the moon
• शशि-प्रकाश-वदनाः: कर्म (कर्म / Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शशि (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रकाश (प्रातिपदिक) + वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: बहुव्रीहिः ‘शशिप्रकाशं वदनं यस्याः’ (whose face is moon-bright); स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः बहुवचनम् (Nominative plural, feminine)

• चारु-कुण्डल-भूषिताः: adorned with lovely earrings
• चारु-कुण्डल-भूषिताः: कर्म (कर्म / Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चारु (प्रातिपदिक) + कुण्डल (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषित (कृदन्त; √भूष् धातु, क्त)
• Form: समासः: तत्पुरुषः ‘चारुकुण्डलैः भूषिताः’ (adorned with beautiful earrings); स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः बहुवचनम् (Nominative plural, feminine)

• अम्लान-माल्य-आभरणाः: wearing unfading garlands and ornaments
• अम्लान-माल्य-आभरणाः: कर्म (कर्म / Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अम्लान (प्रातिपदिक) + माल्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आभरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: बहुव्रीहिः ‘अम्लानं माल्यं च आभरणं च यस्याः’ (having unfading garlands and ornaments); स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः बहुवचनम् (Nominative plural, feminine)

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: क्रिया (क्रिया / Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः एकवचनम् (3rd person singular)

• हरि-यूथपः: the monkey-troop leader (Hanuman)
• हरि-यूथपः: कर्ता (कर्ता / Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक) + यूथप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘हरीणां यूथपः’ (leader of monkeys); पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Nominative singular, masculine)

Context

Hanuman, the leader of vanaras found the wives of Ravana, whose faces were bright as the Moon, adorned with beautiful ear-rings and fresh floral garlands.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Rāvaṇa’s wives
• Moon (śaśi)

FAQs

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

Dharma is implied by contrast: beauty and luxury are ethically neutral; the Ramayana urges that truth (satya) and righteousness, not outward charm, determine what is worthy.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān continues scanning the women in the palace, assessing whether any could be Sītā, while noting their adornments.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanumān’s careful identification and integrity—he looks without being distracted, because his aim is truthful recognition of Sītā.