Shloka 41

रावणान्तःपुरे शयनदर्शनम्

Hanumān Observes Rāvaṇa’s Inner Apartments and Sleeping Court

Devanagari script

विपञ्चीं परिगृह्यान्या नियता नृत्तशालिनी।निद्रावशमनुप्राप्ता सह कान्तेव भामिनी।।।।

Transliteration

vipañcīṃ parigṛhyānyā niyatā nṛttaśālinī |

nidrāvaśam anuprāptā saha kānteva bhāminī ||

Translation

മറ്റൊരു സ്ത്രീ—സംയമവതിയും നൃത്തകലയിൽ നിപുണയും—വിപഞ്ചി കൈകളിൽ ചേർത്തുപിടിച്ച് നിദ്രാവശയായി ഉറങ്ങുകയായിരുന്നു; പ്രിയതമന്റെ അരികിൽ നിദ്ര പിടിച്ച കാന്തയെപ്പോലെ.

Word by Word

• vipañcīm: a vipañcī (lute)
• vipañcīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipañcī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• parigṛhya: having taken/held
• parigṛhya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-√grah (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), 'having held'

• anyā: another (woman)
• anyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• niyatā: restrained/self-possessed
• niyatā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niyata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• nṛttaśālinī: graceful in dance
• nṛttaśālinī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nṛtta-śālinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'nṛtte śālinī' (skilled in dance)

• nidrāvaśam: the sway of sleep
• nidrāvaśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nidrā-vaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'nidrāyā vaśaḥ' (sleep's sway)

• anuprāptā: overtaken/come under
• anuprāptā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anu-√prāp + kta (धातु-कृदन्त)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; past passive participle

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Sahārtha-avyaya (सहार्थक अव्यय) governing instrumental (implied)

• kāntā: a beloved (woman)
• kāntā: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāntā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; used as upamāna (like a beloved woman)

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमाद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-avyaya

• bhāminī: the lovely woman
• bhāminī: Upameya (उपमेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāminī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

Context

Another self-possessed lady, graceful in dance, holding a seven-stringed lute was as though lying asleep with her beloved.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān (implied observer)

FAQs

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

The larger ethical point is fidelity to one’s righteous task: Hanumān remains steady in satya and dharma while witnessing scenes of pleasure and sleep.

What is the narrative situation?

In Laṅkā’s women’s quarters, Hanumān observes another sleeping performer holding her instrument, described as if sleeping beside her beloved.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Alertness without intrusion—ethical vigilance (apramāda) coupled with respect for boundaries.