Shloka 20

लाङ्गूलदाह-पर्यटनम्

The Burning Tail and the Parade through Laṅkā

Devanagari script

अथापश्यद्विमानानि विचित्राणि महाकपिः।संवृतान् भूमिभागांश्च सुविभक्तांश्च चत्वरान्।।5.53.20।।

Transliteration

athāpaśyad vimānāni vicitrāṇi mahākapiḥ | saṃvṛtān bhūmibhāgāṃś ca su-vibhaktāṃś ca catvarān ||5.53.20||

Translation

അപ്പോൾ മഹാകപി വിചിത്രമായ വിമാനംപോലുള്ള മന്ദിരങ്ങളും, സുരക്ഷിതമായി ചുറ്റപ്പെട്ട ഭൂഭാഗങ്ങളും, ക്രമമായി വിഭജിച്ച ചത്വരങ്ങളും കണ്ടു.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: अव्यय-सम्बन्ध (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रमसूचक-अव्यय (sequencing particle: then)

• अपश्यत्: saw
• अपश्यत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• विमानानि: mansions/palaces
• विमानानि: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• विचित्राणि: variegated/wondrous
• विचित्राणि: कर्म-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; agrees with विमानानि

• महाकपिः: the great monkey
• महाकपिः: कर्ता (subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + कपि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘महान् कपिः’

• संवृतान्: covered/enclosed
• संवृतान्: कर्म-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सं + वृ (धातु) → संवृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त: क्त-प्रत्यय (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; qualifies भूमिभागान्/चत्वरान् (covered/enclosed)

• भूमि-भागान्: sections of ground/streets
• भूमि-भागान्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक) + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘भूमेः भागाः’

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

• सुविभक्तान्: well laid out
• सुविभक्तान्: कर्म-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + विभक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त: क्त-प्रत्यय (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘well-arranged/divided’

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

• चत्वरान्: squares/crossings
• चत्वरान्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चत्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Context

The great vanara saw wonderful, towering mansions, secure, mammoth buildings all over and well-laid out squares on the streets.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Laṅkā (implied city setting)
• vimāna (mansion/palace)

FAQs

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

Dharma also appears as order and structure in civic life: the city is portrayed as organized and secured, reflecting disciplined governance (even if morally misused by its rulers).

What is the narrative situation?

As Hanumān is being taken through Laṅkā, he observes the city’s architecture and planned public spaces.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Alertness and keen observation: Hanumān remains perceptive even while under threat.