Shloka 31

लङ्कादाहानन्तरचिन्ता

Hanuman’s Post-Conflagration Self-Examination and Assurance of Sita’s Safety

Devanagari script

प्रपलायितरक्षः स्त्रीबालवृद्धसमाकुला।जनकोलाहलाध्माता क्रन्दन्तीवाद्रिकन्दरै: ।।।।

Transliteration

prapalāyita-rakṣaḥ-strī-bāla-vṛddha-samākulā | jana-kolāhalādhmātā krandantīvādri-kandaraiḥ ||

Translation

ഭീതിയിൽ ഓടിപ്പോകുന്ന രാക്ഷസസ്ത്രീകളും കുട്ടികളും വൃദ്ധരും നിറഞ്ഞു നഗരം കലങ്ങിപ്പോയി; ജനങ്ങളുടെ കോലാഹലത്തിൽ മുഴങ്ങുന്ന ആ നഗരം ഗുഹാസദൃശമായ ഇടവഴികളിലൂടെ കരയുന്നതുപോലെ തോന്നി.

Word by Word

• प्रपलायितरक्षः: with the rākṣasas fleeing
• प्रपलायितरक्षः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + पलाय् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) + रक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-समासार्थः: ‘प्रपलायितानि रक्षांसि यस्यां/यत्र’ इति (contextually qualifying नगरी)

• स्त्रीबालवृद्धसमाकुला: crowded with women, children, and the aged
• स्त्रीबालवृद्धसमाकुला: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक) + बाल (प्रातिपदिक) + वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + समाकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व (स्त्री+बाल+वृद्ध) उपपद-तत्पुरुषेण ‘समाकुला’ इति; विशेषण (qualifying नगरी)

• जनकोलाहलाध्माता: swollen/resounding with people's uproar
• जनकोलाहलाध्माता: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक) + कोलाहल (प्रातिपदिक) + आध्मात (प्रातिपदिक/क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘जनानां कोलाहलेन आध्माता’ (filled/resounding with uproar)

• क्रन्दन्ती: wailing
• क्रन्दन्ती: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्रन्द् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (Present active participle, शतृ); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying नगरी)

• इव: as if
• इव: उपमान (Simile marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक निपात (comparative particle)

• अद्रिकन्दरैः: with/like mountain-caves (i.e., cave-like hollows)
• अद्रिकन्दरैः: करण (Karana/Instrument; comparison basis)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अद्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + कन्दर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘अद्रेः कन्दराणि’

Context

The city is crowded with women, children and old demons running (in a bid to save themselves). The loud wails of demons resounded in the mountain-caves. It was as if the city was shrieking loudly.

Characters & Entities

• Lanka (city; implied)
• Rākṣasas (women, children, elderly)

FAQs

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

Adharma generates collective suffering and social collapse; when unrighteous power rules, even the vulnerable are swept into fear and disorder.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration depicts Lanka’s chaos as the fire spreads—people flee and the city seems to cry out.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Not a single virtue is praised here; rather, the verse highlights the tragic effects that follow a city’s alignment with adharma.