Shloka 23

रावणान्तःपुर-पानभूमि-विचयः

Hanumān’s Survey of Rāvaṇa’s Inner Palace and Banquet Hall

Devanagari script

राजतेषु च कुम्भेषु जाम्बूनदमयेषु च।पानश्रेष्ठं तदा भूरि कपिस्तत्र ददर्श ह।।5.11.23।।

Transliteration

rājateṣu ca kumbheṣu jāmbūnadamayeṣu ca | pānaśreṣṭhaṁ tadā bhūri kapis tatra dadarśa ha ||5.11.23||

Translation

അപ്പോൾ കപി ഹനുമാൻ അവിടെ വെള്ളിക്കുടങ്ങളിലെയും ശുദ്ധ ജാംബൂനദസ്വർണ്ണപാത്രങ്ങളിലെയും സൂക്ഷിച്ചിരുന്ന, ധാരാളമായ പാനശ്രേഷ്ഠം കണ്ടു.

Word by Word

• rājateṣu: in (those) of silver
• rājateṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rājata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण (adjectival)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• kumbheṣu: in pots/jars
• kumbheṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kumbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• jāmbūnadamayeṣu: in (those) made of pure gold
• jāmbūnadamayeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jāmbūnada + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (material: jāmbūnada-maya = made of Jāmbūnada gold); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• pānaśreṣṭham: the best drink (best wine)
• pānaśreṣṭham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāna + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (pāna-śreṣṭha = best among drinks); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• bhūri: abundantly/much
• bhūri: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhūri (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-नपुंसक)
• Form: परिमाणवाचक-अव्यय (indeclinable of quantity; used adverbially)

• kapiḥ: the monkey
• kapiḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• dadarśa: saw
• dadarśa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• ha: indeed
• ha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ha (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/reminiscence)

Context

(The banquet hall) appeared beautiful with many kinds of garlands arranged in different locations. Also there were vessels made of pure gold, crystalware and jars spread all over.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• pāna-bhūmi (banquet hall)

FAQs

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

Dharma is reinforced through contrast: even the ‘best’ pleasures, presented with precious metals, remain secondary to righteous duty. Hanumān’s presence in such a place highlights commitment to satya and task over temptation.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān continues his reconnaissance and notices large quantities of premium drink kept in costly containers.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-mastery and purpose: Hanumān observes abundance without indulging, staying aligned with his mission to locate Sītā.