Shloka 19

चन्द्रप्रकाशे लङ्कानिरीक्षणम्

Moonlit Survey of Lanka and the Unfound Sita

Devanagari script

अन्याः पुनर्हर्म्यतलोपविष्टा स्तत्र प्रियाङ्केषु सुखोपविष्टाः।भर्तुः प्रिया धर्मपरा निविष्टा ददर्श धीमान् मदनाभिविष्टाः।।5.5.19।।

Transliteration

anyāḥ punar harmya-talopaviṣṭāḥ statra priyāṅkeṣu sukhopaviṣṭāḥ | bhartuḥ priyā dharma-parā niviṣṭā dadarśa dhīmān madanābhiviṣṭāḥ ||5.5.19||

Translation

വീണ്ടും ബുദ്ധിമാനായ ഹനുമാൻ മറ്റുചിലരെ കണ്ടു—മാളികയുടെ മട്ടുപ്പുറങ്ങളിൽ ഇരുന്നവർ, പ്രിയന്റെ മടിയിൽ സുഖമായി ആശ്രയിച്ചവർ; ഭർത്തൃപ്രിയയും ധർമ്മപരായണയും ആയി, പ്രണയത്തിൽ ലീനരായി കാമവശപ്പെട്ടവർ.

Word by Word

• अन्याः: others (women)
• अन्याः: कर्ता (doer/subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः बहुवचनम् (Feminine, Nominative, Plural)

• पुनः: again / further
• पुनः: क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; क्रियाविशेषणम्/पुनरुक्त्यर्थक-निपातः (indeclinable; adverb/particle meaning ‘again/further’)

• हर्म्यतलोपविष्टाः: seated on the mansion-terraces
• हर्म्यतलोपविष्टाः: कर्ता (doer/subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हर्म्य-तल (प्रातिपदिक) + उप-√विश् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: समासः: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (हर्म्यस्य तलम् = harmya-talam); ‘उपविष्ट’ = उप-√विश् + क्त (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः बहुवचनम् (Feminine, Nominative, Plural)

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (doer/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; देशवाचक-अव्ययम् (indeclinable; locative adverb ‘there’)

• प्रियाङ्केषु: on (their) beloveds’ laps
• प्रियाङ्केषु: अधिकरण (location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय-अङ्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: कर्मधारयः (प्रियः अङ्कः = beloved’s lap); पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी-विभक्तिः बहुवचनम् (Masculine, Locative, Plural)

• सुखोपविष्टाः: seated happily
• सुखोपविष्टाः: कर्ता (doer/subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक) + उप-√विश् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: समासः: अव्ययीभावः (सुखेन उपविष्टाः = seated happily); ‘उपविष्ट’ = उप-√विश् + क्त; स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः बहुवचनम् (Feminine, Nominative, Plural)

• भर्तुः: of (their) husband
• भर्तुः: सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Masculine, Genitive, Singular)

• प्रियाः: beloved (wives)
• प्रियाः: कर्ता (doer/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः बहुवचनम् (Feminine, Nominative, Plural)

• धर्मपराः: devoted to duty/dharma
• धर्मपराः: कर्ता (doer/subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म-पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: तत्पुरुषः (धर्मे पराः = devoted to dharma); स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः बहुवचनम् (Feminine, Nominative, Plural)

• निविष्टाः: engaged / absorbed
• निविष्टाः: कर्ता (doer/subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि-√विश् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: ‘निविष्ट’ = नि-√विश् + क्त (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः बहुवचनम् (Feminine, Nominative, Plural)

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: क्रिया (main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (परस्मैपदम्), प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम् (Perfect, Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular)

• धीमान्: intelligent / wise
• धीमान्: कर्ता (doer/subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• मदनाभिविष्टाः: overwhelmed by passion (Kāma)
• मदनाभिविष्टाः: कर्ता (doer/subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मदन (प्रातिपदिक) + अभि-√विश् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: समासः: तत्पुरुषः (मदनेन अभिविष्टाः = overwhelmed by love/Passion); ‘अभिविष्ट’ = अभि-√विश् + क्त; स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः बहुवचनम् (Feminine, Nominative, Plural)

Context

While moving forward, Hanuman saw the Moon spreading his light, thereby warding off the agony of all creatures, causing the swelling of the ocean and illuminating the earth as well as the sky.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Laṅkā

FAQs

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

The verse juxtaposes kāma (desire) with dharma: even amid passion, the women are described as ‘devoted to their husbands,’ hinting at the Ramāyaṇa’s recurring concern with rightful bonds and social duty.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān continues searching the palatial quarters of Laṅkā, noticing couples on terraces, yet still scanning for Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discernment (viveka): Hanumān observes intimate scenes without losing focus on his mission or slipping into distraction.