Shloka 14

रावणदर्शनम्

Hanuman Beholds Ravana in Court

Devanagari script

अपश्यद्राक्षसपतिं हनुमानतितेजसम्।विष्ठितं मेरुशिखरे सतोयमिव तोयदम्।।5.49.14।।

Transliteration

apaśyad rākṣasapatiṃ hanumān atitejasam | viṣṭhitaṃ meruśikhare satoyam iva toyadam ||5.49.14||

Translation

ഹനുമാൻ അത്യന്തം തേജസ്സുള്ള രാക്ഷസപതിയെ കണ്ടു; അവൻ മേരുവിന്റെ ശിഖരത്തിൽ ഇരിക്കുന്നതുപോലെ, ജലഭാരമുള്ള മഴമേഘംപോലെ തോന്നി.

Word by Word

• अपश्यत्: saw
• अपश्यत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• राक्षसपतिम्: the lord of demons
• राक्षसपतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस+पति (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हनुमान्: Hanuman
• हनुमान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हनुमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• अतितेजसम्: exceedingly radiant
• अतितेजसम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति+तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; qualifying राक्षसपतिम्

• विष्ठितम्: stationed/standing
• विष्ठितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि+√स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'standing/placed' qualifying राक्षसपतिम्

• मेरुशिखरे: on the peak of Meru
• मेरुशिखरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेरु+शिखर (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• सतोयम्: water-laden
• सतोयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स+तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'with water, water-laden' qualifying तोयदम्

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

• तोयदम्: a cloud (water-giver)
• तोयदम्: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोयद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; upamāna

Context

Hanuman saw the highly resplendent giant king (seated on the throne) who appeared like a cloud laden with water appearing on the peak of mount Meru.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Rāvaṇa (Rākṣasapati)
• Meru

FAQs

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

The verse sets up the moral tension between tejas (majestic power) and dharma (righteousness): brilliance alone is not moral legitimacy.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanuman finally beholds Ravana directly on the throne, described with elevated cosmic imagery.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanuman’s focused observation and courage—he can look upon overwhelming splendor without wavering in purpose.