Shloka 28

लङ्काप्रवेशः

Hanuman Enters Lanka and Encounters Laṅkā-devatā

Devanagari script

अहं राक्षसराजस्य रावणस्य महात्मनः।आज्ञाप्रतीक्षा दुर्धर्षा रक्षामि नगरीमिमाम्।।।।

Transliteration

ahaṃ rākṣasa-rājasya rāvaṇasya mahātmanaḥ | ājñā-pratīkṣā durdharṣā rakṣāmi nagarīm imām ||

Translation

ഞാൻ രാക്ഷസരാജനായ മഹാത്മാവ് രാവണന്റെ ആജ്ഞ കാത്തുകൊണ്ട്, അജയ്യയായി ഈ നഗരിയെ കാത്തുരക്ഷിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• राक्षसराजस्य: of the demon-king
• राक्षसराजस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस + राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (राक्षसानां राजा)

• रावणस्य: of Ravana
• रावणस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled
• महात्मनः: विशेषणम् (Qualifier in genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; रावणस्य विशेषणम्

• आज्ञाप्रतीक्षा: waiting for (his) command
• आज्ञाप्रतीक्षा: विशेषणम् (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आज्ञा + प्रतीक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (आज्ञायाः प्रतीक्षा)

• दुर्धर्षा: unassailable
• दुर्धर्षा: विशेषणम् (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् + धर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्/उपसर्ग-युक्त विशेषण (hard to assail)

• रक्षामि: I protect
• रक्षामि: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्

• नगरीम्: city
• नगरीम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नगरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इमाम्: this
• इमाम्: विशेषणम् (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नगरीम् इति पदस्य विशेषणम्

Context

"In obedience to the orders of the great demon king, Ravana, I am protecting this unassailable city.

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā
• Rāvaṇa
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Kartavya (duty): the guardian frames her role as protection in obedience to authority—raising the Ramayana’s recurring question of when duty to a ruler aligns (or conflicts) with higher dharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Laṅkā-devatā identifies herself and states her mandate to guard the city under Rāvaṇa’s command.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discipline in assigned role (though morally complicated by serving an adharmic ruler).