Shloka 6

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

paramāstaraṇāstīrṇam āvikājinasaṃvṛtam |

dāmabhir varamālyānāṃ samantād upaśobhitam ||5.10.6||

Translation

അവൻ അത്യുത്തമമായ വിരിപ്പുകളാൽ വിരിച്ച, മൃദുവായ ഉണ്ണിൻ മൂടുപടം കൊണ്ടു മൂടിയ, ചുറ്റുമെങ്ങും ശ്രേഷ്ഠ പുഷ്പമാലകളുടെ ചരടുകളാൽ ശോഭിതമായ ആ ദിവ്യ ശയ്യ കണ്ടു.

Word by Word

• parama-āstaraṇa-āstīrṇam: spread with the best coverings
• parama-āstaraṇa-āstīrṇam: Karma (कर्म/object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + āstaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + āstīrṇa (कृदन्त, ā-√stṛ)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (paramaiḥ āstaraṇaiḥ āstīrṇam); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• āvikājina-saṃvṛtam: covered with woolen hide/skin
• āvikājina-saṃvṛtam: Karma (कर्म/object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āvika (प्रातिपदिक) + ajina (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃvṛta (कृदन्त, saṃ-√vṛ)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (āvikājinena saṃvṛtam); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• dāmabhiḥ: with strings/garlands (chains)
• dāmabhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• vara-mālyānām: of excellent garlands
• vara-mālyānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक) + mālya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (varāṇi mālyāni); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

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

• upaśobhitam: beautifully adorned
• upaśobhitam: Karma (कर्म/object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa-√śubh (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

• Hanumān
• Rāvaṇa (implied by the royal couch/bedchamber context)

FAQs

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

The verse indirectly highlights the Ramayana’s recurring dharmic contrast: outward luxury and power are not proof of righteousness. Hanumān’s mission requires disciplined, truthful perception—seeing splendor without being tempted or morally confused by it.

What is the narrative situation?

While searching within Laṅkā, Hanumān reaches the inner royal quarters and carefully observes the magnificent couch and its adornments, continuing his investigation for Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanumān’s steadiness and self-control: he remains focused on duty (Sītā-anveṣaṇa) despite the overwhelming opulence surrounding him.