Shloka 5

सप्तदशः सर्गः

Hanuman Beholds Sita in the Ashoka Grove

Devanagari script

दिदृक्षमाणो वैदेहीं हनुमान्मारुतात्मजः।स ददर्शाविदूरस्था राक्षसीर्घोरदर्शनाः।।5.17.4।।एकाक्षीमेककर्णां च कर्णप्रावरणां तथा।अकर्णां शङ्कुकर्णां च मस्तकोच्छ्वासनासिकाम्।।5.17.5।।अतिकायोत्तमाङ्गीं च तनुदीर्घशिरोधराम्।ध्वस्तकेशीं तथाऽकेशीं केशकम्बलधारिणीम्।।5.17.6।।लम्बकर्णललाटां च लम्बोदरपयोधराम्।लम्बोष्ठीं चुबुकोष्ठीं च लम्बास्यां लम्बजानुकाम्।।5.17.7।।ह्रस्वां दीर्घां तथा कुब्जां विकटां वामनां तथा।करालां भुग्नवक्त्रां च पिङ्गाक्षीं विकृताननाम्।।5.17.8।।

Transliteration

ekākṣīm ekakarṇāṃ ca karṇaprāvaraṇāṃ tathā |

akarṇāṃ śaṅkukarṇāṃ ca mastakocchvāsanāsikām ||

Translation

അവൻ ഒരുത്തിയെ ഒരുകണ്ണുള്ളവളായി, മറ്റൊരുത്തിയെ ഒരുകാതുള്ളവളായി, മറ്റൊരുത്തിയെ കാതുകൾ തന്നെ ശരീരം മൂടുന്നതുപോലെ ഉള്ളവളായി; ഒരുത്തിയെ കാതില്ലാത്തവളായി, ഒരുത്തിയെ ശങ്കുപോലെയുള്ള കാതുകളുള്ളവളായി, മറ്റൊരുത്തിയെ തലമുകളിൽ ഉള്ള നാസികയിലൂടെ ശ്വസിക്കുന്നവളായി കണ്ടു.

Word by Word

एकाक्षीम्one-eyed

एककर्णाम्one-eared

चand

कर्णप्रावरणाम्having ears as a covering (ears covering the body)

तथाlikewise; also

अकर्णाम्earless

शङ्कुकर्णाम्having pointed (cone-like) ears

चand

मस्तकोच्छ्वासनासिकाम्having a nose for breathing on the head

Context

While Hanuman was eager to observe Sita he saw many shedemons in ugly appearance close by her. One of them was oneeyed, another with a single ear, a third had ears covering the body, yet another had pointed (spikelike) ears, one was breathing through the nose on the head, one had long thin neck, one was hairless another had hair covering like a blanket. One of them had hanging ears on the forehead, another had big hanging lips, still another had long lips hanging up to the chin. So also one had protruding knees, one stunted, one tall, another had lips extending up to her chin, yet another was longfaced and another had long knees. There was one pigmy, one tall, one was humpbacked and another a dwarf.Similarly an ugly looking one, another with gaping mouth, still another with a distorted face, one with yellow eyes and one of deformed face were seen.

Characters & Entities

Hanumān

Rākṣasīs

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown indirectly by contrast: the grotesque guards symbolize the adharma of coercion and intimidation, against which Hanumān’s righteous purpose must stand firm.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān surveys the immediate area near Sītā and observes the frightening variety of rākṣasī forms guarding her.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Composure and discernment—Hanumān carefully observes details without losing his mission-focus.