Shloka 17

लाङ्गूलदाह-पर्यटनम्

The Burning Tail and the Parade through Laṅkā

Devanagari script

ततस्ते संवृताकारं सत्त्ववन्तं महाकपिम्।परिगृह्य ययुर्हृष्टा राक्षसाः कपिकुञ्जरम्।।5.53.17।।

Transliteration

tatas te saṁvṛtākāraṁ sattvavantaṁ mahākapim | parigṛhya yayur hṛṣṭā rākṣasāḥ kapikuñjaram ||5.53.17||

Translation

അപ്പോൾ ആനന്ദിതരായ രാക്ഷസന്മാർ, ശരീരം ചുരുക്കി നിൽക്കുന്ന സത്ത്വശാലിയായ മഹാകപിയെ—കപികളിൽ ഗജരാജനെപ്പോലെയുള്ളവനെ—പിടിച്ചുകൊണ്ട് പുറപ്പെട്ടു.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/काल-निर्देशक-अव्यय (adverb: then/from there)

• ते: they/those
• ते: कर्ता (subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• संवृत-आकारम्: having a contracted form
• संवृत-आकारम्: कर्म-विशेषण (object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सं + वृ (धातु) → संवृत (कृदन्त) + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘संवृतः आकारः यस्य’/‘contracted in form’ (qualifies कपिकुञ्जरम्/महाकपिम्)

• सत्त्ववन्तम्: powerful/valiant
• सत्त्ववन्तम्: कर्म-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्त्ववत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘possessing strength/valor’

• महाकपिम्: the great monkey
• महाकपिम्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + कपि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘महान् कपिः’

• परिगृह्य: having seized
• परिगृह्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), ‘having seized/captured’

• ययुः: they went
• ययुः: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• हृष्टाः: delighted
• हृष्टाः: कर्तृ-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृष् (धातु) → हृष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त: क्त-प्रत्यय (PPP used adjectivally), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; agrees with राक्षसाः/ते

• राक्षसाः: rakshasas
• राक्षसाः: कर्ता (subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• कपिकुञ्जरम्: the elephant among monkeys (Hanuman)
• कपिकुञ्जरम्: कर्म (object; apposition to महाकपिम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपि (प्रातिपदिक) + कुञ्जर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘कपीनां कुञ्जरः’ (elephant among monkeys)

Context

Then the ogres set forth joyfully capturing the very powerful elephant among the monkeys, the great vanara who had contracted his body.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Dharma includes composure under constraint: Hanumān’s controlled posture (contracted form) reflects disciplined strength rather than uncontrolled rage.

What is the narrative situation?

Rākṣasas capture Hanumān (who has reduced his size) and, rejoicing, take him along through the city.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-regulation and tactical adaptability.