Shloka 36

रावणान्तःपुरे शयनदर्शनम्

Hanumān Observes Rāvaṇa’s Inner Apartments and Sleeping Court

Devanagari script

अङ्गहारैस्तथैवान्या कोमलैर्नृत्तशालिनी।विन्यस्तशुभसर्वाङ्गी प्रसुप्ता वरवर्णिनी।।।।

Transliteration

aṅgahārais tathaivānyā komalair nṛttaśālinī |

vinyasta-śubha-sarvāṅgī prasuptā vara-varṇinī ||

Translation

മറ്റൊരു സ്ത്രീ—സുകുമാരിയും നൃത്തകലയിൽ നിപുണയും അതിസുന്ദര വർണ്ണവതിയും—നൃത്തത്തിന്റെ അങ്കഹാരമെന്നപോലെ ക്രമപ്പെടുത്തിയ ശുഭാവയവങ്ങളോടെ ഉറങ്ങിക്കിടന്നു; ഉറക്കത്തിലും അഭ്യാസം ശരീരത്തെ പിടിച്ചുനിർത്തുന്നതുപോലെ।

Word by Word

• अङ्गहारैः: with dance-movements (aṅgahāras)
• अङ्गहारैः: करण (करणम् / Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः बहुवचनम् (Instrumental plural, masculine)

• तथा: thus, so
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb: thus/so)

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अवधारणार्थक-निपातः (emphatic particle)

• अन्या: another (woman)
• अन्या: कर्ता (कर्ता / Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Nominative singular, feminine)

• कोमलैः: delicate
• कोमलैः: करण (करणम् / Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः बहुवचनम् (Instrumental plural, masculine); विशेषणम् (to ‘अङ्गहारैः’)

• नृत्त-शालिनी: a dancer, skilled in dance
• नृत्त-शालिनी: कर्ता (कर्ता / Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृत्त (प्रातिपदिक) + शालिनी (प्रातिपदिक; ‘possessing/adept’)
• Form: समासः: तत्पुरुषः/कर्मधारय-प्रायः ‘नृत्ते शालिनी’ (skilled in dance); स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Nominative singular, feminine)

• विन्यस्त-शुभ-सर्वाङ्गी: with her beautiful limbs arranged (in posture)
• विन्यस्त-शुभ-सर्वाङ्गी: कर्ता (कर्ता / Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + नि + √अस्/√स्था (धातु) → विन्यस्त (कृदन्त-क्त) + शुभ (प्रातिपदिक) + सर्व + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: सर्वाङ्ग = कर्मधारयः ‘सर्वाणि अङ्गानि’; विन्यस्तशुभसर्वाङ्गी = बहुव्रीहिः ‘विन्यस्तानि शुभानि सर्वाङ्गानि यस्याः’ (whose beautiful limbs were placed/arranged); स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Nominative singular, feminine)

• प्रसुप्ता: asleep
• प्रसुप्ता: कर्ता (कर्ता / Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + √स्वप् (धातु) → प्रसुप्त (कृदन्त-क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Nominative singular, feminine); क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः

• वर-वर्णिनी: of splendid complexion
• वर-वर्णिनी: कर्ता (कर्ता / Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्णिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: कर्मधारयः ‘वरः वर्णः यस्याः’ (of excellent complexion); स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Nominative singular, feminine)

Context

Another woman exceedingly beautiful and a delicate danseuse of beautiful complexion and rhythmic movements held her limbs in a dancing posture (though asleep) due to her habit .

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Rāvaṇa’s wives

FAQs

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

It points to saṃskāra (habit) shaping life: repeated actions imprint the body and mind. Dharma therefore urges cultivating truthful, disciplined habits, since they persist even when awareness fades.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān notices a dancer among the palace women, asleep yet posed like one still performing.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanumān’s perceptiveness—he observes subtle details while remaining inwardly committed to his righteous mission.