Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 10, Shloka 39

रावणान्तःपुरे शयनदर्शनम्

Hanumān Observes Rāvaṇa’s Inner Apartments and Sleeping Court

Devanagari script

पटहं चारुसर्वाङ्गी पीड्य शेते शुभस्तनी।चिरस्य रमणं लब्ध्वा परिष्वज्येव भामिनी।।।।

Transliteration

paṭahaṃ cāru-sarvāṅgī pīḍya śete śubha-stanī |

cirasya ramaṇaṃ labdhvā pariṣvajyeva bhāminī ||

Translation

Seorang wanita jelita, tubuhnya indah dan dadanya elok, tidur sambil memeluk gendang paṭaha; seolah-olah seorang kekasih yang berahi mendakap kekasih yang lama dinanti.

Word by Word

• paṭaham: a kettledrum
• paṭaham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paṭaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• cāru-sarvāṅgī: a woman with lovely limbs
• cāru-sarvāṅgī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cāru-sarva-aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; bahuvrīhi: 'cārūṇi sarvāṇi aṅgāni yasyāḥ sā'

• pīḍya: having pressed tightly
• pīḍya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pīḍ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), 'having pressed'

• śete: lies/sleeps
• śete: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śī (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ, Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; Ātmanepada

• śubha-stanī: having beautiful breasts
• śubha-stanī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha-stana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; bahuvrīhi: 'śubhāḥ stanāḥ yasyāḥ sā'

• cirasya: after a long time
• cirasya: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ciras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya used adverbially (चिरस्य = after a long time/long)

• ramaṇam: delight/lover (contextual)
• ramaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ramaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; object of labdhvā

• labdhvā: having obtained
• labdhvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √labh (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), 'having obtained'

• pariṣvajya: having embraced
• pariṣvajya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-√svaj (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), 'having embraced' (elliptic in simile)

• iva: as if
• iva: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमाद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-avyaya

• bhāminī: the lovely woman
• bhāminī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāminī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

Context

Another charming beauty endowed with beautiful breasts lay hugging a tambourine as though a passionate woman lay embracing her lover whom she secured after a long time.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān (implied observer)

FAQs

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

The verse functions as a backdrop for dharma-by-contrast: the worldly atmosphere of indulgence is described poetically, while the dharmic hero (Hanumān) remains inwardly untouched and truthful to his purpose.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān surveys the sleeping residents of the palace quarters and sees one woman holding a drum with an embrace likened to lovers’ reunion.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Inner purity and self-discipline (śaucam, saṃyama) in Hanumān, implied by his non-participation and careful observation.