Shloka 21

लङ्काप्रवेशः

Hanuman’s Stealth Entry and Survey of Lanka

Devanagari script

शक्तिवृक्षायुधांश्चैव पट्टिसाशनिधारिणः।।5.4.20।।क्षेपणीपाशहस्तांश्च ददर्श स महाकपिः।स्रग्विणस्त्वनुलिप्तांश्च वराभरणभूषितान्।।5.4.21।।नानावेषसमायुक्तान् यथास्स्वैरगतान् बहून्।तीक्ष्णशूलधरांश्चैव वज्रिणश्च महाबलान्।।5.4.22।।

Transliteration

sragviṇas tv anuliptāṃś ca varābharaṇa-bhūṣitān ||

Translation

അവൻ ചിലരെ കണ്ടു—സ്രഗ്വിണർ, അഥവാ മാലധാരികൾ; സുഗന്ധാനുലേപനങ്ങളാൽ ലിപ്തദേഹങ്ങൾ; ഉത്തമാഭരണങ്ങളാൽ ഭൂഷിതർ.

Word by Word

• स्रग्विणः: wearing garlands
• स्रग्विणः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्रग्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (सन्दर्भानुसार कर्म), पुल्लिङ्ग; ‘स्रक्’ (माला) + विन् (मतुप्/विन्-प्रत्ययार्थ) = ‘मालाधारी’

• तु: and/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विशेष/विरोधसूचक (particle: but/and also)

• अनुलिप्तान्: smeared/anointed (with unguents)
• अनुलिप्तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुलिप्त (कृदन्त; √लिप् धातु)
• Form: बहुवचन, द्वितीया (कर्म), पुल्लिङ्ग; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘अनुलिप्त’ = ‘लेपित/अनुलेपित’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• वर-आभरण-भूषितान्: adorned with excellent ornaments
• वर-आभरण-भूषितान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक) + आभरण (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषित (कृदन्त; √भूष् धातु)
• Form: बहुवचन, द्वितीया (कर्म), पुल्लिङ्ग; कृदन्त-विशेषण: क्त ‘भूषित’; समास: वरैः आभरणैः भूषिताः

Context

The great monkey saw the demons who held shaktis and trees as weapons (Shakti is a lance), some held threepointed spears, missiles and slings with which missiles are hurled. Some of them wore flower garlands, smeared unguents on their body and were bedecked with choicest ornaments. They were dressed in several ways and many of them moved freely. They were very strong and held sharp tridents and armed with thunderboltlike weapons.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Laṅkā
• Rākṣasas (implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma cautions against judging by appearance: even those engaged in adharma may look refined and ornamented; truth requires discernment beyond external beauty.

What is the narrative situation?

During his survey, Hanumān notes that some defenders are lavishly dressed and perfumed, indicating wealth and courtly culture within Laṅkā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discrimination (viveka)—Hanumān remains focused on purpose, not distracted by splendor.