Shloka 13

रावणदर्शनम्

Hanuman Beholds Ravana in Court

Devanagari script

मन्त्रिभिर्मन्त्रतत्त्वज्ञैरन्यैश्च शुभबुद्धिभिः।अन्वास्यमानं रक्षोभिः सुरैरिव सुरेश्वरम्।।5.49.13।।

Transliteration

mantribhir mantratattvajñair anyaiś ca śubhabuddhibhiḥ | anvāsyamānaṃ rakṣobhiḥ surair iva sureśvaram ||5.49.13||

Translation

മന്ത്രതത്ത്വം അറിഞ്ഞ മന്ത്രിമാരും, മറ്റു ശുഭബുദ്ധിയുള്ള രാക്ഷസന്മാരും സേവിച്ചപ്പോൾ, അവൻ ദേവന്മാർ ചുറ്റിനിൽക്കുന്ന ദേവരാജൻ ഇന്ദ്രനെപ്പോലെ തോന്നി.

Word by Word

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

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

• अन्यैः: by others
• अन्यैः: Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; qualifying (मन्त्रिभिः) understood

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

• शुभबुद्धिभिः: by the good-minded
• शुभबुद्धिभिः: Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ+बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (बुद्धि), तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; 'good-minded' qualifying persons

• अन्वास्यमानम्: being attended upon
• अन्वास्यमानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु+आ+√आस् (धातु) + यमान (कृदन्त; शानच्/मान)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि वर्तमान-कृदन्त: 'being attended/sat near' qualifying सुरेश्वरम्

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

• सुरैः: by gods
• सुरैः: Upamana-instrument (उपमान-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

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

• सुरेश्वरम्: Indra (lord of gods)
• सुरेश्वरम्: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर+ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'lord of gods' (Indra) as upamāna

Context

He was attended by ogres including ministers who were intellectuals and adept in counselling. He appeared like lord Indra attended by the gods.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa (implied)
• Indra (Sureśvara)
• Sura (gods)
• Rakṣasas
• Ministers/Counsellors

FAQs

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

Outward resemblance to divine kingship is not equal to dharma; true sovereignty is validated by righteousness and protection of the innocent.

What is the narrative situation?

The court is described as full of capable advisers and attendants, intensifying the impression of Ravana’s majesty.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The narrative underscores the theme of ‘misused excellence’: capabilities and intelligence become virtues only when directed by dharma.