Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 2, Shloka 15

लङ्कादर्शनं तथा रात्रौ सूक्ष्मरूपेण प्रवेशोपायचिन्तनम्

Vision of Lanka and Strategy for Nocturnal Entry

Devanagari script

समासाद्य च लक्ष्मीवान् लङ्कां रावणपालिताम्।परिखाभिः सपद्माभिः सोत्पलाभिरलङ्कृताम्।।5.2.14।।सीतापहरणार्थेन रावणेन सुरक्षिताम्।समन्ताद्विचरद्भिश्च राक्षसैरुग्रधन्विभिः।।5.2.15।।काञ्चनेनावृतां रम्यां प्राकारेण महापुरीम्।गृहैश्च ग्रहसंकाशैः शारदाम्बुदसन्निभैः।।5.2.16।।पाण्डुराभिः प्रतोलीभिरुच्चाभिरभिसंवृताम्।अट्टालकशताकीर्णां पताकाध्वजमालिनीम्।।5.2.17।।तोरणैः काञ्चनैर्दिव्यैर्लतापङ्त्किविचित्रितैः।ददर्श हनुमान् लङ्कां दिवि देवपुरीं यथा।।5.2.18।।

Transliteration

sītāpaharaṇārthena rāvaṇena surakṣitām |

samantād vicaradbhiś ca rākṣasair ugradhanvibhiḥ ||

Translation

Demi tujuan menculik Sītā, Rāvaṇa menjaganya dengan ketat; di sekelilingnya berkawal para rākṣasa yang meronda, memegang busur yang menggerunkan.

Word by Word

• पालिताम्: ruled/protected
• पालिताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पालित (कृदन्त; √पाल् धातु, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषण (past passive participle)

• राक्षसेन्द्रेण: by the lord of demons (Ravana)
• राक्षसेन्द्रेण: Kartr-karana (कर्ता-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (कर्ता/करण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: राक्षसानाम् इन्द्रः (lord of demons)

• निर्मिताम्: constructed
• निर्मिताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्मित (कृदन्त; निर्-√मा धातु, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषण (past passive participle)

• विश्वकर्मणा: by Vishvakarman
• विश्वकर्मणा: Kartr-karana (कर्ता-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वकर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (कर्ता/करण), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि-नाम: यस्य कर्म विश्वम् (Viśvakarman)

• प्लवमानम्: as if floating/moving
• प्लवमानम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्लवमान (कृदन्त; √प्लु/प्लव् धातु, शतृ/शानच्; present participle)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (पुरीम् इति); वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त-विशेषण (present participle: 'floating/moving')

• इव: as if
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानार्थक-अव्यय (particle of comparison: as if)

• आकाशे: in the sky
• आकाशे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• हनुमान्: Hanuman
• हनुमान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हनुमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• पुरीम्: the city
• पुरीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

Context

Fortunate Hanuman having reached Lanka ruled by Ravana found it surrounded by moats full of blue lotuses, guarded by demons with frightening bows, in view of Sita abducted and kept there. It was protected by boundary walls inlaid with gold that great and beautiful city with buildings resembling the assembly of planets and whitewashed, elevated houses looking like autumnal clouds and well laid out streets decorated with garlands of banners and flag posts, rows of colourful creepers and festoons. The city of Lanka appeared like Amaravati, the city of gods.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa
• Hanumān
• rākṣasa

FAQs

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

Abduction and coercive confinement are marked as adharma; power used to sustain wrongdoing (even with strong security) is ethically illegitimate.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān notes that Laṅkā’s security is intensified specifically because Sītā has been abducted and held there.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanumān’s strategic prudence: he recognizes the danger and the reason for heightened vigilance, guiding his careful approach.