Shloka 5

रावणान्तःपुरे शयनदर्शनम्

Hanumān Observes Rāvaṇa’s Inner Apartments and Sleeping Court

Devanagari script

जातरूपपरिक्षिप्तं चित्रभानुसमप्रभम्।अशोकमालाविततं ददर्श परमासनम्।।5.10.4।।वालव्यजनहस्ताभिर्वीज्यमानं समन्ततः।गन्धैश्च विविधैर्जुष्टं वरधूपेन धूपितम्।।5.10.5।।परमास्तरणास्तीर्णमाविकाजिनसंवृतम्।दामभिर्वरमाल्यानां समन्तादुपशोभितम्।।5.10.6।।

Transliteration

vāla-vyajana-hastābhir vījyamānaṃ samantataḥ |

gandhaiś ca vividhair juṣṭaṃ vara-dhūpena dhūpitam ||

Translation

ചാമര-വ്യജനങ്ങൾ കൈയിൽ പിടിച്ച സ്ത്രീകൾ എല്ലാടവും വീശിക്കൊണ്ടിരുന്നു; നാനാവിധ സുഗന്ധങ്ങളാൽ നിറഞ്ഞതും ഉത്തമ ധൂപധൂമം കൊണ്ട് സുഗന്ധിതവുമായിരുന്നതു.

Word by Word

• vāla-vyajana-hastābhiḥ: by women with hair-fans in their hands
• vāla-vyajana-hastābhiḥ: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāla (प्रातिपदिक) + vyajana (प्रातिपदिक) + hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (vāla-vyajanāni hastāḥ yāsām); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; करण (agent-instrument group)

• vījyamānam: being fanned
• vījyamānam: Karma (कर्म/object qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vīj (धातु)
• Form: शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि कृदन्त (present passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of āsanam)

• samantataḥ: all around
• samantataḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/distribution)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samantataḥ (अव्यय; from samanta + tasil)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (adverb: 'on all sides')

• gandhaiḥ: with fragrances
• gandhaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• vividhaiḥ: various
• vividhaiḥ: Karana (करण/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vividha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of gandhaiḥ)

• juṣṭam: filled with
• juṣṭam: Karma (कर्म/object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √juṣ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (endowed/filled)

• vara-dhūpena: with excellent incense
• vara-dhūpena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक) + dhūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (varaḥ dhūpaḥ); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• dhūpitam: fumigated/incensed
• dhūpitam: Karma (कर्म/object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √dhūp (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

Context

He saw an exquisite couch made of gold shining wonderfully like the Sun. It was decorated with ashoka flowers. Women were holding fans of chamari deer. It was upholstered with the best of bedspreads made of soft sheep skin and adorned with beautiful strings of flower garlands. Scented with aromatic smoke, it was refreshed with fragrance which had spread all over the place.

Characters & Entities

• dhūpa (incense)

FAQs

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

The verse frames luxury as morally neutral in itself; dharma depends on how one lives—Hanuman remains duty-bound and truth-oriented amid opulence.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanuman observes the richly serviced royal couch/bed area within the inner apartments.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Purposefulness and restraint: he notes details only to advance the search, not for pleasure.