Shloka 12

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

sukhopaviṣṭaṃ rakṣobhiś caturbhir baladarpitaiḥ | kṛtsnaṃ parivṛtaṃ lokaṃ caturbhir iva sāgaraiḥ ||5.49.12||

Translation

സുഖമായി ഇരുന്ന്, ബലഗർവത്തിൽ മദിച്ച നാലു രാക്ഷസന്മാർ ചുറ്റിനിന്നപ്പോൾ, അവൻ നാലു സമുദ്രങ്ങൾ ചുറ്റിയിരിക്കുന്ന സമസ്ത ഭൂമിയെപ്പോലെ തോന്നി.

Word by Word

• सुखोपविष्टम्: comfortably seated
• सुखोपविष्टम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख+उपविष्ट (कृदन्त; उप+√विश् (धातु) + क्त; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'comfortably seated' qualifying (राक्षसपतिम्/रावणम् implied)

• रक्षोभिः: by demons
• रक्षोभिः: Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• चतुर्भिः: by four
• चतुर्भिः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; numeral adjective qualifying रक्षोभिः

• बलदर्पितैः: proud from strength
• बलदर्पितैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बल+दर्पित (कृदन्त; √दृप् (धातु) + क्त; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; 'intoxicated with strength' qualifying रक्षोभिः

• कृत्स्नम्: entire
• कृत्स्नम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत्स्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; qualifying लोकम्

• परिवृतम्: surrounded
• परिवृतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि+√वृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'surrounded' qualifying लोकम्

• लोकम्: the world
• लोकम्: Upameya (उपमेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• चतुर्भिः: by four
• चतुर्भिः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; numeral adjective qualifying सागरैः

• इव: like
• इव: Upamana-marker (उपमान-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय

• सागरैः: oceans
• सागरैः: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

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)
• Sāgara (oceans)

FAQs

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

The verse warns against pride born of power; dharma requires humility and restraint, especially for rulers surrounded by force.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanuman sees Ravana enthroned, ringed by powerful attendants, with a grand cosmic simile used to describe the scene.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast, Hanuman’s steadiness: he observes overwhelming power without surrendering his mission or principles.