Shloka 11

रावणदर्शनम्

Hanuman Beholds Ravana in Court

Devanagari script

दुर्धरेण प्रहस्तेन महापार्श्वेन रक्षसा।मन्त्रिभिर्मन्त्रतत्त्वज्ञैर्निकुम्भेन च मन्त्रिणा।।5.49.11।।सुखोपविष्टं रक्षोभिश्चतुर्भिर्बलदर्पितैः।कृत्स्नं परिवृतं लोकं चतुर्भिरिव सागरैः।।5.49.12।।

Transliteration

durdhareṇa prahastena mahāpārśvena rakṣasā | mantribhir mantratattvajñair nikumbhena ca mantriṇā ||5.49.11||

Translation

അവന്റെ സമീപത്ത് ദുര്ധരൻ, പ്രഹസ്തൻ, മഹാപാർശ്വൻ എന്നീ രാക്ഷസന്മാരും, മന്ത്രതത്ത്വം അറിയുന്ന മന്ത്രിമാരും, മന്ത്രിയായ നികുംഭനും കൂടി സേവനത്തിൽ ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു.

Word by Word

• दुर्धरेण: by Durdhara
• दुर्धरेण: Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्धर (प्रातिपदिक; नाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; proper name

• प्रहस्तेन: by Prahasta
• प्रहस्तेन: Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रहस्त (प्रातिपदिक; नाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; proper name

• महापार्श्वेन: by Mahāpārśva
• महापार्श्वेन: Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महापार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक; नाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; proper name (compound as name)

• रक्षसा: by the demon
• रक्षसा: Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मन्त्रिभिः: by ministers
• मन्त्रिभिः: Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• मन्त्रतत्त्वज्ञैः: knowing the true principles of counsel
• मन्त्रतत्त्वज्ञैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्त्र+तत्त्व+ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; 'knowers of the essence of counsel' qualifying मन्त्रिभिः

• निकुम्भेन: by Nikumbha
• निकुम्भेन: Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निकुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक; नाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; proper name

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• मन्त्रिणा: by a minister
• मन्त्रिणा: Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Context

He was attended by Durdhara, Prahasta, Mahaparsva and Nikumbha who were his learned ministers. Seated comfortably and attended by the four arrogant ministers, he was puffed with pride of their strength and appeared like the entire world surrounded by four oceans.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa (implied as the one attended)
• Durdhara
• Prahasta
• Mahāpārśva
• Nikumbha

FAQs

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

Counsel (mantra) is ethically potent only when aligned with dharma; skill in policy without righteousness becomes an instrument of adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration introduces Ravana’s key ministers surrounding him in court as Hanuman looks on.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Implicitly, the ideal of righteous counsel: the verse foregrounds advisory competence, inviting comparison with dharmic kingship.